EU Statement at IAEA Board of Governors on agenda item 8(c) on the NPT Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran

Chair,

I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The following countries align themselves with this statement: Turkey^§, North Macedonia^*, Montenegro^*, Albania^*, Ukraine^*, the Republic of Moldova^*, Bosnia and Herzegovina^*, Iceland⁺, Liechtenstein⁺, Norway⁺ and San Marino.

The European Union would like to thank the Director General for his report contained in document GOV/2022/42 and Deputy Director General Aparo for the technical briefing on 8 September 2022.

The EU welcomes the Director General's update on the implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and the implementation status of the Additional Protocol in Iran. We commend the Director General and the Secretariat for their professional, objective, independent and impartial work in verifying Iran's safeguards obligations. The EU encourages the IAEA to continue to use all safeguards-relevant information available to it as per standard practice.

For the past years, the EU has expressed its serious concerns at the presence of uranium particles of anthropogenic origin at three undeclared locations in Iran, namely Turquzabad, Varamin and Marivan, and at the undeclared previous nuclear activities and use of nuclear material at Lavisan-Shian. On several occasions, the EU has called on Iran to provide the IAEA with the necessary explanations in accordance with the obligations under its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement. Despite numerous opportunities, and repeated and strong calls by the Board of Governors on Iran to clarify the outstanding safeguards matters, including resolutions adopted in June 2020 and in June 2022, Iran has yet to provide technically credible explanations.

The Director General’s current report only underscores our still existing grave concerns. It is deeply regrettable that Iran, since the previous meeting of the Board, has not engaged with the Agency and that therefore, there was no progress in clarifying the outstanding safeguards issues.

The EU remains deeply concerned that nuclear material has been present at undeclared locations in Iran and that the current location of this nuclear material and/or of equipment contaminated by nuclear material, which may still exist in Iran today, is not known to the Agency.

The EU notes with concern that the Agency cannot confirm the correctness and completeness of Iran’s declarations under its NPT Safeguards Agreement unless and until Iran provides technically credible explanations for the presence of uranium particles of anthropogenic origin at three undeclared locations and informs the Agency of the current location(s) of the nuclear material and/or contaminated equipment. We also note with concern that the report states that therefore the Agency is not in a position to provide assurance that Iran’s nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful.

We recall the resolution adopted in June 2022, calling upon Iran to act on an urgent basis to fulfil its legal obligations and, without further delay, engage with the agency to clarify and resolve all outstanding safeguards issues. These issues will remain under our close scrutiny until Iran provides the expected clarification, in accordance with Iran’s legally binding obligations under its NPT Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement.

The EU reiterates its full support to and trust in the IAEA for the fulfilment of its mandate under the NPT Safeguards Agreements. The EU strongly supports DG Grossi’s tireless efforts to pursue constructive engagement with Iran in order to address all issues that need to be urgently resolved.  

The EU takes note of the report, looks forward to the Director General continuing to report to the Board of Governors, as appropriate, and requests that this report be made public. The EU expects rapid and tangible progress to be achieved by the next Board of Governors and shall consider further action accordingly.

Thank you, Chair.

§ Candidate Country

* Candidate Countries North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania, as well as potential Candidate Country Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.

+ Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are members of the EFTA and of the European Economic Area.