Statement by Ambassador Takeshi Hikihara at the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting starting on 9 September 2019: Item 6: Verification and Monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231(2015)
2019/9/10
Thank you, Madame Chair,
Japan appreciates the Acting Director General’s report on Verification and Monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, dated 30th August 2019 (GOV/2019/32). We also highly value the recent technical briefing by the Secretariat on the 5th of September. The Acting Director General’s report contains appropriate and sufficient details, which Japan highly appreciates. The details in this report serve the objective of increasing the transparency of the implementation of the JCPOA.
Japan continues to firmly support the JCPOA, as it strengthens the international non-proliferation regime and contributes to the peace and stability of the Middle East region. From this stand point, Japan has extended technical assistance to Iran’s implementation of the JCPOA. Iran’s steady implementation of the JCPOA is the basis for further cooperation between Iran and the international community, including Japan.
Our views on the withdrawal of the US from the JCPOA have already been shared at previous meetings.
Madame Chair,
The Acting Director General’s recent report reaffirms Iran’s continuous excess of the LEU stockpile and the enrichment level, which are prescribed in the JCPOA. Japan expresses its strong concerns on those measures taken by Iran. Furthermore, on 7th of September Iran announced that their commitments for research and development would be removed as the “third-step” in reducing its commitments under the JCPOA. Japan is closely following the situation with concern.
Madame Chair,
Japan sincerely hopes for an easing of tensions and a stabilizing of the situation in the Middle East region. Japan once again strongly urges Iran to fully comply with the JCPOA, to immediately return to its full commitment under the JCPOA and to refrain from further measures that may undermine the JCPOA. Iran should avoid causing any doubt about the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities. Together with the international community, Japan has been making repeated calls at the highest levels, and other various levels, for Iran to fully comply with the JCPOA, and we will continue those diplomatic efforts.
Madame Chair,
It is of great importance that the Agency continues to verify and monitor Iran’s implementation of the Additional Protocol and its other nuclear related commitments under the JCPOA. Complementary accesses are a vital tool to ensure the peaceful use of nuclear related activities, and Iran’s timely and proactive cooperation is required. We recognize that the Secretariat has various safeguards-related information. It is of the utmost importance that the Secretariat continues to carry out appropriate Safeguards activities in view of all available information, and Japan strongly supports the Secretariat’s efforts in this regard. Japan pays careful attention to the phrase in paragraph 24 of the Acting Director General’s report dated 30th August, “Ongoing interactions between the Agency and Iran relating to Iran’s implementation of its Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol require full and timely cooperation by Iran.” Japan calls on Iran to continue its cooperation with the Agency.
Madame Chair,
I would like to emphasize that the support of the international community remains crucial, as the Agency assumes an increasingly essential role. It is therefore imperative for the IAEA to secure sufficient resources in a seamless manner. In this context, we look forward to seeing the largest possible number of Member States actively providing financial support to the implementation of the agreement. Furthermore, the implementation of the JCPOA by Iran should be assisted, of which Japan has been contributing in this regard.
Madame Chair,
The exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme and non-diversion must be ensured through the full implementation of the JCPOA. In this regard, the early ratification of the Additional Protocol by Iran is essential. Japan hopes that the Board of Governors will continue to address the issue of verification and monitoring in Iran in its future meetings, based on regular reports by the Director General that contain adequate information regarding Iran’s implementation of its commitments.
Thank you, Madame Chair.
Japan appreciates the Acting Director General’s report on Verification and Monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231, dated 30th August 2019 (GOV/2019/32). We also highly value the recent technical briefing by the Secretariat on the 5th of September. The Acting Director General’s report contains appropriate and sufficient details, which Japan highly appreciates. The details in this report serve the objective of increasing the transparency of the implementation of the JCPOA.
Japan continues to firmly support the JCPOA, as it strengthens the international non-proliferation regime and contributes to the peace and stability of the Middle East region. From this stand point, Japan has extended technical assistance to Iran’s implementation of the JCPOA. Iran’s steady implementation of the JCPOA is the basis for further cooperation between Iran and the international community, including Japan.
Our views on the withdrawal of the US from the JCPOA have already been shared at previous meetings.
Madame Chair,
The Acting Director General’s recent report reaffirms Iran’s continuous excess of the LEU stockpile and the enrichment level, which are prescribed in the JCPOA. Japan expresses its strong concerns on those measures taken by Iran. Furthermore, on 7th of September Iran announced that their commitments for research and development would be removed as the “third-step” in reducing its commitments under the JCPOA. Japan is closely following the situation with concern.
Madame Chair,
Japan sincerely hopes for an easing of tensions and a stabilizing of the situation in the Middle East region. Japan once again strongly urges Iran to fully comply with the JCPOA, to immediately return to its full commitment under the JCPOA and to refrain from further measures that may undermine the JCPOA. Iran should avoid causing any doubt about the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities. Together with the international community, Japan has been making repeated calls at the highest levels, and other various levels, for Iran to fully comply with the JCPOA, and we will continue those diplomatic efforts.
Madame Chair,
It is of great importance that the Agency continues to verify and monitor Iran’s implementation of the Additional Protocol and its other nuclear related commitments under the JCPOA. Complementary accesses are a vital tool to ensure the peaceful use of nuclear related activities, and Iran’s timely and proactive cooperation is required. We recognize that the Secretariat has various safeguards-related information. It is of the utmost importance that the Secretariat continues to carry out appropriate Safeguards activities in view of all available information, and Japan strongly supports the Secretariat’s efforts in this regard. Japan pays careful attention to the phrase in paragraph 24 of the Acting Director General’s report dated 30th August, “Ongoing interactions between the Agency and Iran relating to Iran’s implementation of its Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol require full and timely cooperation by Iran.” Japan calls on Iran to continue its cooperation with the Agency.
Madame Chair,
I would like to emphasize that the support of the international community remains crucial, as the Agency assumes an increasingly essential role. It is therefore imperative for the IAEA to secure sufficient resources in a seamless manner. In this context, we look forward to seeing the largest possible number of Member States actively providing financial support to the implementation of the agreement. Furthermore, the implementation of the JCPOA by Iran should be assisted, of which Japan has been contributing in this regard.
Madame Chair,
The exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme and non-diversion must be ensured through the full implementation of the JCPOA. In this regard, the early ratification of the Additional Protocol by Iran is essential. Japan hopes that the Board of Governors will continue to address the issue of verification and monitoring in Iran in its future meetings, based on regular reports by the Director General that contain adequate information regarding Iran’s implementation of its commitments.
Thank you, Madame Chair.