Statement
Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Before
The Board of Governors
Mr. Chairman,
At the outset I would like to associate myself to the statement made by the distinguished Ambassador of Cuba on behalf of the majority of Agency’s Member States that is, the Non-Aligned Movement. I am obliged to express sincere appreciation of my Government for their valuable supports.
Once again the issue of the implementation of the Safeguards in the Islamic Republic of Iran is discussed at the Board of Governors. It is regretful that the issue remains in the Agenda of the Board of Governors due to the political motivations of a few delegations. It is also of profound disappointment that the United Nations Security Council is involved in a purely technical matter which is being fully related to the IAEA as the sole competent international organization to the Safeguards. Any such involvement by a body mandated to deal with political and security issues will endanger the credibility, integrity and the independence of the Agency, as enshrined in the letter and spirit of the Statute.
The first consequence of the historical mistake by sending the nuclear dossier to the United Nations Security Council was termination of voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol, which was implemented as if it was ratified for about three years.
Warning had been made repeatedly that the “policy of carrot and stick” is counterproductive and the Islamic Republic of Iran will not bond to pressure and the language of threat. We had already informed that our parliament had prepared a draft of bill that in case of referral the issue to the UNSC the Government will be mandated to stop voluntary implementation of the Additional Protocol. Those who did not believe and assumed the pressure policy would work, have to be blamed for.
Mr. Chairman,
Now the situation is similar. A draft of a bill is already prepared by some members of our Parliament to the effect that if the UN Security Council passes a resolution under Chapter VII, the interaction and cooperation with the IAEA will be reconsidered.
As it has been adopted by the Board of Governors, the issues related to legal obligation has to be distinct from voluntary, confidence building, and transparency measures. The Islamic Republic of Iran has fully committed to its obligation under the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement. However as reflected in the last report of the Director General, Iran will be prepared to deal with the few remaining outstanding issues provided that the nuclear dossier is retuned back in full from the UN Security Council, to the framework of the Agency.
I have to draw the attention to the fact that the assertion of Iran to the effect that there are no reprocessing activities, is once again proved to be correct, as reported by Director General, reflected in his last report Para 7:
“There are no indications of ongoing reprocessing activities at these facilities or at any other declared facilities in Iran.”
Therefore there has been no legal basis for the resolutions of the Board of Governors and the United Nations Security Council.
As regards to the report of the Director General, I would like to put on record that there has been no impedance but full cooperation in the implementation of Comprehensive Safeguards in accordance with agreement in INFCIRC/214.
Regarding two issues referred to in the DG’s report considered by the Secretariat to be related to the Safeguards Agreement, the following responses to the request of Director General have been made:
“Upon instruction of my Government, I would like to inform that in response to your request, further environmental sampling from the equipment at the Technical University, from which samples was already taken before, could be made once again. In order to show determination to further cooperate with the Agency and Your Excellency, in particular, in facilitating removal of ambiguities, this decision was made.”(Letter dated 22.11.2006)
“Pursuant to your request for access to the operating records concerning product and tail assays of PFEP, I have the honour to inform that the President of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran has agreed to instruct the operator to do so. Although the AEOI has already provided the required operating records, and it does not consider the access to the information in question as an obligation but the decision was made in the spirit of cooperation with the Agency, Your Excellency, in particular, in further facilitating the Agency’s activities in Iran.”(Letter dated 23.11.2006)
Mr. Chairman,
The threat of armed attack against peaceful nuclear installations of Iran by US and Israeli Regime has been augmented. In communication made both addressed to the Secretary General of the United Nations as well as to the Director General of the Agency, my Government serious concerns have been duly reflected. Recalling the historical military attack against Iraqi nuclear reactor which was condemned by the General Conference resolution, there is “potential of threat which requires prompt attention and immediate actions by Member States of the IAEA and international Community in general.
I hereby recall the relevant operative paragraphs of the General Conference Resolution GC (XXXIV)/RES/533:
“Any armed attack on and threat against unclear installations devoted to peaceful purposes constitute a violation of the principles of the United Nations Chapter, International Law and the Statute of the Agency.”
Serious concerns were also expressed by the Agency’s General Conference in its resolution GC (XXXI)/RES/475 in which it stated:
“Armed attack on a nuclear installation could result in radioactive release with grave consequences within and beyond the boundaries of the State which has been attacked.”
Mr. Chairman,
The last but not the least is the fact that the Agency’s General Conference in its Resolution GC(XXXIV)/RES/533 recognized that “An armed attack on a Safeguarded nuclear facility, in operation or under the construction, would create a situation in which the United Nations Security Council would have to act immediately in accordance with the provisions of the UN Chapter.”
Member States of the Agency are expected to take prompt measures dealing with such essential and urgent case, being in full contravention with the said resolutions as well as the Statute of the IAEA.
Mr. Chairman,
In several occasions my country as well as all members by NAM and even other Member States has expressed serious concerns about release of confidential information of the Agency, particularly those submitted to the Agency’s inspection. Considering the above mentioned threats of attack against peaceful nuclear installations of Iran, and the lack of affective protection of confidentiality of detailed information provided to the Agency, the concerns are drastically increased, which calls for immediate remedy measures by member States as well as Director General.
Mr. Chairman,
In conclusion I would like to declare that the Islamic Republic of Iran has already been committed to the principles of nuclear disarmament and non proliferation. At the same time in exercising its inalienable right under the Statute and NPT, determined to continue without any interruption its peaceful nuclear activities, in the area of nuclear fuel and in nuclear enrichment in particular, in accordance with the Agency’s Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (INFCIRC/214)
Thank your for your attention
Responses to some interventions at the BG
1- Regarding the intervention by the US delegation:
It is not a surprise that US delegate repeated that use of force and sanctions is defined as diplomacy. This is in line with the unilateral policy of US which let to unilateral military occupation and massacre of thousands innocent civilians in Iraq and Afghanistan, called by US multilateral policy and diplomacy.
It is regretful that US Administration has not, as yet, even after recent defeat understood the reality and it is not prepared to confess that would public and US people can not tolerate anymore deception and humiliation by assuming public being deaf to hear, and, mentally retarded to understand.
US Government has to understand that according the principle of physics, exerting pressure leads to saturation point and then results in explosion. People of the world have protested and shall further uprise against such unilateral aggressive policy of the US.
2-Regarding the statement of EU3, it suffice to recall the history of the negotiation between EU and Iran.EU3 requested and agreed upon for a short suspension of enrichment, in written but in reality the intention was proved to be cessation of all nuclear activities. That is why there is a serious confidence deficit on EU3. Following the Paris Agreement, EU3 humiliating proposal was submitted. The more Iran cooperated the harsher the resolutions were proposed. In response to the so called 5+1 proposal, Iran did provide its response on 31 August 2006 as promised in spite of the unjustified action of referral of the nuclear issue to the UN Security Council.
3- I have also to request the Secretariat to inform the Board of Governors, the world public at large that only few handful countries have got the assurances of absence of undeclared nuclear activities therefore Iran should not be blamed for it. Director General has already declared that it is time consuming process, where for example it took Japan 30 years to get this certificate.
4- Iran is victim of negligence .In many cases prior to the completion of the evaluation, assessment, and laboratory analysis the Secretariat has submitted incomplete reported which created confusion political tension. I remind that about 2 years ago the Secretariat reported that only in one room they have found 36% enriched particles. The US delegate made a lot of political campaign and some western media mislead public to the effect that Iran is deceiving the Agency! This happened where many samples were still being analyzed. In next report to the Board Director General informed that in many other rooms and even other buildings same contaminated particles were found. I therefore declare the necessity to rectify this trend that is the Secretariat should not, under the pressure of the Board og Governors report prior the completion of its investigation.
