IAEA Board of Governors
Agenda item 5d: NPT Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran
4 March 2026
Statement delivered by Mr Mat Fox, Alternate Representative of Australia to the IAEA
Chair
Australia thanks the Director General for his latest report under this agenda item, and Deputy Director General Aparo for last week’s technical briefing. We express our deep appreciation for the Agency’s essential independent and evidence-based implementation of safeguards activities in Iran.
Chair
Through its actions over many years, Iran has been a destabilising force in the region and globally. It has long been recognised that Iran is not complying with its nuclear non-proliferation obligations. This Board has repeatedly called on Iran to return to full compliance with its safeguards and non-proliferation obligations, including, most recently, last November. We deeply regret that, over a prolonged period, Iran has failed to heed these calls.
Iran’s non-compliance with its legal obligations under its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement is longstanding, and has reached a new level of gravity over recent reporting periods. Despite repeated requests, Iran has refused to provide any reporting or access regarding its most proliferation-sensitive facilities and associated nuclear material. For over eight months, the Agency has not had access to verify Iran’s significant stockpile of high enriched uranium, a matter of the utmost urgency raising grave risks of potential diversion. Iran’s fourth declared enrichment facility, Isfahan Fuel Enrichment Plant, has never been accessed by the Agency; due to Iran’s lack of cooperation, the Agency does not know its exact location, whether it is operational or whether it contains nuclear material. Iran’s ‘pick and choose’ approach to providing information and access has undermined a central tenet of the safeguards regime.
Iran’s refusal to fulfil its most basic safeguards obligations has raised concerns about possible diversion of nuclear material and misuse of nuclear facilities. Its lack of cooperation has meant that the Agency has been unable to verify Iran’s compliance with its obligations under relevant Security Council resolutions, including whether it has suspended all enrichment-related activities. And because of Iran’s failure to address its outstanding safeguards issues, the Agency cannot provide assurance that Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively peaceful.
Chair
Australia is closely monitoring the evolving situation in the Middle East, and we have called for the resumption of dialogue to restore peace. However, a lasting solution to this conflict requires assurance that Iran can never obtain a nuclear weapon, and that it will fully comply with its safeguards and non-proliferation obligations. The Agency’s independent, technical verification mandate will remain absolutely critical in this regard.
We again thank the Director General and his team for their tireless and professional engagement on safeguards and verification in Iran, and express our full support for the Agency’s indispensable work. We ask that the Director-General’s report be made public.
Thank you, Chair.