IAEA Board of Governors
Agenda item 6(c): NPT Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran
7 March 2024
Statement by H.E Ambassador Ian Biggs, Governor and Resident Representative of Australia to the IAEA
Thank you Chair
Australia remains gravely concerned by the Islamic Republic of Iran’s protracted failure to comply with its NPT Safeguards obligations as outlined by the Director General once again in his most recent report to the Board.
We note with concern that yet again, no meaningful progress has been made since our last meeting to resolve Iran’s outstanding safeguards issues and that Iran continues to fail to implement the Joint Statement of 4 March 2023, one year on.
Chair
We are alarmed by public statements in Iran regarding its technical capabilities to produce nuclear weapons. Such rhetoric is escalatory and irresponsible, particularly in light of outstanding safeguards issues which seriously impede the IAEA’s ability to provide assurance that Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively peaceful. We remain deeply concerned by Iran’s escalatory actions in its nuclear program and developments in its missile programs, including its proliferation of ballistic and cruise missiles.
Chair
We call on Iran to reconsider its decision to withdraw the designation of IAEA inspectors on the eve of last year’s General Conference. Iran’s de-designation of inspectors seriously affects the Agency’s ability to fulfil its verification mandate consistent with Iran’s NPT safeguards agreement, in particular at enrichment facilities. As the Director General has stated, Iran’s stance is unambiguously contrary to the cooperation that is required, and this decision should be reversed.
Chair
Iran continues to fail to provide the Agency with information and access required to address Iran’s outstanding safeguards issues. The lack of information and access is the basis of the IAEA’s inability to confirm the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran.
Iran has again failed to substantially work to resolve the outstanding safeguards issues related to the Varamin and Turquzabad sites, despite abundant time and opportunity. Further, while Iran has provided corrected accounting reports regarding the discrepancy at the Uranium Conversion Facility, we note the Director General’s advice that this raises a new issue concerning the accuracy of Iran’s past declarations. We support the Agency’s further consideration of this issue.
Chair
Australia repeats its earlier calls on Iran to fulfill all legal obligations under the Subsidiary Arrangements to its safeguards agreement and fully implement Modified Code 3.1 without further delay. Iran’s purported unilateral ‘suspension’ of Modified Code 3.1, and its failure to provide design information about nuclear facilities currently under construction, are obviously disturbing.
We regret Iran’s failure to agree to voluntary monitoring and verification measures proposed by the IAEA under the terms of the 4 March 2023 Joint Statement, and we urge Iran to engage constructively with the IAEA on these measures.
Satisfactory resolution of all these issues is indispensable to inform the Agency’s understanding of Iran’s nuclear program.
This entirely unacceptable situation has stood for too long. In line with the Board of Governors Resolution of November 2022 (GOV/2022/70), we reiterate our call on Iran to return to full compliance with its safeguards obligations and to immediately cooperate, fully and in good faith with the IAEA. Strict adherence to IAEA safeguards obligations is crucial to the integrity of the global nuclear non-proliferation architecture.
Finally Chair
Australia is grateful for the tireless, impartial and professional efforts of the Director General and the Secretariat on implementation of Iran’s NPT safeguards agreement. We welcome the Director General’s commitment to keep the Board appraised of developments and request that GOV/2024/8 be made public.