IAEA Board of Governors
Agenda item 7(d): NPT Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran
13 September 2023
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 once again in [GOV/2023/43].
We note with concern that no progress has been made resolving Iran’s outstanding safeguards issues, or implementing the activities set out in the Joint Statement of 4 March 2023 since our meeting in June.
Chair
Iran has, to date and despite abundant time and opportunity, failed to substantially work to resolve the outstanding safeguards issues related to the Turquzabad and Varamin sites.
We call upon Iran to work with the Agency to provide technically credible explanations for the presence of nuclear materials detected at these sites and to clarify the whereabout of related nuclear materials and/or equipment.
Iran has failed also to resolve the discrepancy in the nuclear material balance at the Uranium Conversion Facility and to lift its unilateral suspension of implementation of Modified Code 3.1. 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.
This pattern is deeply disturbing. Satisfactory resolution of all of these issues is indispensable to inform the Agency’s understanding of Iran’s nuclear programme.
Australia once again calls on Iran to return to full compliance with its safeguards obligations and to immediately cooperate, fully and in good faith, with the Agency.
Chair
This situation has stood for too long. In its resolution of November 2022 [GOV/2022/70], the Board of Governors again called on Iran to act on an urgent basis to fulfil its legal obligations and to clarify and resolve all outstanding safeguards issues.
Finally Chair
Strict adherence to IAEA safeguards obligations is crucial to the integrity of the global nuclear non-proliferation architecture. This is why we joined, with many other States, the Joint Statement on NPT Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran delivered by Denmark today.
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, including the recent technical meeting in Tehran.
We welcome the Director General’s commitment to keep the Board appraised of developments and request that GOV/2023/43 be made public.