IAEA Board of Governors
Agenda item 5: Verification and monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of United Nations Security Council resolution 2231 (2015)
11 June 2025
Statement by H.E Ambassador Ian Biggs, Governor and Resident Representative of Australia to the IAEA
Chair,
We thank the Director General and his team for their ongoing efforts to preserve the Agency’s JCPOA verification and monitoring activities in Iran. The Agency’s objective, professional reporting under this agenda item continues to provide crucial information regarding Iran’s escalating nuclear program.
The facts outlined in the Director General’s latest report remain alarming. Over this reporting period, Iran has further expanded its enrichment capacity by installing, and operating, new advanced centrifuge cascades. Its accumulation of enriched uranium continues, going far beyond JCPOA limits. Iran is maintaining its accelerated rate of production of uranium enriched to 60%, with the result that its stockpile of such material has increased by almost half over the last three months. These enrichment activities have no credible civilian justification and continue to give rise to serious doubts regarding Iran’s intentions.
Iran’s failure, for more than four years, to implement its nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA has undermined the Agency’s ability to provide assurance as to the nature of its expanding program. Australia continues to be concerned by the Agency’s loss of continuity of knowledge in relation to Iran’s production and inventory of centrifuges, rotors and bellows, heavy water and uranium ore concentrate. The de-designation of experienced IAEA inspectors has also seriously affected the Agency’s ability to conduct verification activities in Iran.
It is essential that Iran change course. Australia again urges Iran to cease its escalatory actions and resume application of the transparency measures which it stopped applying in 2021, including implementation of the Additional Protocol. We also call on Iran to cooperate fully with the Agency on the re-installation of surveillance and monitoring equipment and on access to verification and monitoring data.
Chair,
We welcome the ongoing diplomatic efforts to address this situation, a situation which gives rise to a serious threat to international peace and security.
Australia again thanks the Director General for his report. We ask that it be made public, and that further developments continue to be reported to the Board.
Thank you, Chair.