Statement by Ambassador HIKIHARA Takeshi at the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting starting on Monday, 7 June 2021, Item 6(f): NPT Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran
2021/6/7
Thank you, Madame Chair,
Japan appreciates the Director General’s report on this agenda item as well as the technical briefing by the Secretariat.
The Agency’s safeguards are a fundamental component of nuclear non-proliferation regime, stipulated in the NPT. Japan highly commends the professional and impartial work of the Director-General and the Secretariat in the safeguards implementation including verification and monitoring activities in Iran. We strongly support the Agency to continue to fully carry out its mandate.
Madame Chair,
It is regrettable that, after many months, Iran has not provided the necessary explanation for the presence of the nuclear material particles at Locations 1, 3 and 4, despite all the efforts of the Secretariat and the calls of many Member States in previous Board of Governor’s meetings. Japan is deeply concerned that nuclear material has been present at the three undeclared locations in Iran and that current locations of this nuclear material are not known by the Agency. We call on Iran to provide the necessary explanation in full and without further delay for those three locations. Japan also calls on Iran to answer the Agency’s questions on Location 2 and to clarify the current location of natural uranium in the form of a metal disc.
Japan shares the concern of the Director General that the technical discussions between the Agency and Iran have not yielded the expected results and of the consequent lack of progress in clarifying the safeguards issues. Japan urges Iran to fully cooperate with the Agency and to clarify and resolve the outstanding issues without further delay.
Madame Chair,
We reiterate that the agreed Subsidiary Arrangements and their implementation cannot be modified unilaterally. As stated in the report, Iran’s decision not to implement modified Code 3.1 is contrary to its legal obligations. We strongly call on Iran to decide to resume its implementation immediately.
Japan requests the Director General to keep the Board of Governors informed on the issue.
Thank you, Madame Chair.
Japan appreciates the Director General’s report on this agenda item as well as the technical briefing by the Secretariat.
The Agency’s safeguards are a fundamental component of nuclear non-proliferation regime, stipulated in the NPT. Japan highly commends the professional and impartial work of the Director-General and the Secretariat in the safeguards implementation including verification and monitoring activities in Iran. We strongly support the Agency to continue to fully carry out its mandate.
Madame Chair,
It is regrettable that, after many months, Iran has not provided the necessary explanation for the presence of the nuclear material particles at Locations 1, 3 and 4, despite all the efforts of the Secretariat and the calls of many Member States in previous Board of Governor’s meetings. Japan is deeply concerned that nuclear material has been present at the three undeclared locations in Iran and that current locations of this nuclear material are not known by the Agency. We call on Iran to provide the necessary explanation in full and without further delay for those three locations. Japan also calls on Iran to answer the Agency’s questions on Location 2 and to clarify the current location of natural uranium in the form of a metal disc.
Japan shares the concern of the Director General that the technical discussions between the Agency and Iran have not yielded the expected results and of the consequent lack of progress in clarifying the safeguards issues. Japan urges Iran to fully cooperate with the Agency and to clarify and resolve the outstanding issues without further delay.
Madame Chair,
We reiterate that the agreed Subsidiary Arrangements and their implementation cannot be modified unilaterally. As stated in the report, Iran’s decision not to implement modified Code 3.1 is contrary to its legal obligations. We strongly call on Iran to decide to resume its implementation immediately.
Japan requests the Director General to keep the Board of Governors informed on the issue.
Thank you, Madame Chair.