IAEA Board of Governors
Statement by H. E. Mr Richard Sadleir, Resident Representative of Australia to the IAEA
Agenda Item 5c: NPT Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran
Thank you, Chair and good morning.
The credibility and integrity of the international safeguards and non-proliferation regime rests on the full, strict and transparent compliance with safeguards obligations by all.
Australia is deeply concerned by the ongoing failure of the Islamic Republic of Iran to comply with its NPT safeguards obligations. As further documented in GOV/2022/5, Iran has continuously failed to address, in a technically credible manner, nuclear material present at four undeclared locations. We note that the Agency has no further questions related to the material – a uranium metal disc – at one location, at this stage. We also note with deep concern, that questions related to the three outstanding locations remain unanswered.
Australia welcomes the Joint Statement of 5 March, by Director General Grossi and Iranian Vice President Eslami setting out an approach for the resolution of these issues. We urge Iran to fulfil the commitments made in this joint statement, including by responding comprehensively to the Agency’s questions by the agreed 20 March deadline.
Chair, Australia strongly supports the actions and efforts of the Director General aimed at resolving these urgent compliance issues, including his recent visit to Tehran. We welcome his unflagging commitment in this regard.
Notwithstanding the Agency’s patience, persistence and professionalism in continuing to seek credible answers from Iran, this situation of uncertainty has gone on too long.
A very considerable amount of time – more than two years - has elapsed since these issues were first raised, and the Agency’s ability to provide assurance of the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme is now seriously affected.
Chair,
The full resolution of these issues going forward is essential for the credibility and integrity of the safeguards regime and assurance of Iran’s compliance with its obligations under the NPT.
The international community expects answers on these gravely important matters.
We ask that the Director General continue to report developments on these issues and request that GOV/2022/5 be made public.