IAEA Board of Governors
Agenda Item 5c: NPT Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran
17 November 2022
Statement by H.E Mr Richard Sadleir, 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 once again in GOV/2022/63.
Despite ample time and opportunity, Iran has failed to engage with the Agency to resolve the outstanding safeguards issues at Turquzabad, Varamin and Marivan.
This is deeply disturbing and completely unacceptable. Australia once again calls on Iran to comply with its safeguards obligations and immediately cooperate, fully and in good faith, with the Agency.
Iran’s strategy of offering cooperation on the eve of Board meetings can no longer be taken at face value or as a sign that it will re-engage meaningfully with the Agency.
Iran has failed also to lift its unilateral suspension of implementation of modified code 3.1. Australia repeats its earlier calls on Iran to fulfill all of its legal obligations under the Subsidiary Arrangements to its safeguards agreement and fully implement modified code 3.1 without further delay.
Chair
This entirely unacceptable situation has stood for too long. In its resolution of June 2022, the Board of Governors called on Iran to act on an urgent basis to fulfil its legal obligations and to take up the Director General’s offer of further engagement to clarify and resolve all outstanding safeguards issues.
Given the Board’s call has not been heeded, Australia strongly supports the draft resolution tabled by France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Chair
Australia is grateful for the tireless, impartial and professional efforts of the Director General and the Secretariat on Iran’s NPT safeguards. We welcome the Director General’s commitment to keep the Board appraised of developments and request that GOV/2022/63 be made public.