Statement by Ambassador HIKIHARA Takeshi at the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting starting on Monday, 13 September 2021 : Agenda Item 6(c): NPT Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran
2021/9/16
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 under the NPT. Japan highly commends the professional and impartial work of the Director-General and the Secretariat in the safeguards implementation including the recent visit of Director General to Tehran. We strongly support the Agency to continue to fully carry out its mandate.
Madame Chair,
Japan remains deeply concerned that nuclear material has been present at undeclared locations in Iran and that current locations of this nuclear material are not known to the Agency.
Japan is increasingly concerned that even after some two years the safeguards issues on locations 1 to 4 remain unresolved. Although the Board of Governors echoed the DG’s serious concern and expressed its call to Iran as stated in its resolution in June 2020, Iran has not provided the necessary substantive explanation on these locations, as well as answers and clarification on the Agency’s questions. The current situation is regrettable.
The lack of progress in clarifying the Agency’s questions concerning the correctness and completeness of Iran’s safeguards declarations seriously affects the ability of the Agency to provide assurance of the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme.
Moreover, it is not acceptable that Iran proposed the Agency conduct additional verification activities contingent on the Agency agreeing to close the issue relating to Location 2 regardless of its outcome. The agency’s mandate should not be put under such a condition.
Japan acknowledges the Joint Statement between Iran and the Agency on 12 September and believes that what has been stated there, including high level talks to enhance cooperation and discuss current issues, should be duly implemented. Japan calls on Iran to provide the necessary substantive explanation in full and without further delay on these undeclared locations, and urges Iran to cooperate with the Agency fully and immediately.
Madame Chair,
Iran’s decision not to implement modified Code 3.1 is contrary to its legal obligations. Japan calls on Iran to fulfill all of its legal obligations under the Subsidiary Arrangements to its Safeguards Agreement which cannot be modified unilaterally and fully implement modified Code 3.1.
Japan requests the Director General to keep the Board of Governors informed on the issue of this agenda item.
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 under the NPT. Japan highly commends the professional and impartial work of the Director-General and the Secretariat in the safeguards implementation including the recent visit of Director General to Tehran. We strongly support the Agency to continue to fully carry out its mandate.
Madame Chair,
Japan remains deeply concerned that nuclear material has been present at undeclared locations in Iran and that current locations of this nuclear material are not known to the Agency.
Japan is increasingly concerned that even after some two years the safeguards issues on locations 1 to 4 remain unresolved. Although the Board of Governors echoed the DG’s serious concern and expressed its call to Iran as stated in its resolution in June 2020, Iran has not provided the necessary substantive explanation on these locations, as well as answers and clarification on the Agency’s questions. The current situation is regrettable.
The lack of progress in clarifying the Agency’s questions concerning the correctness and completeness of Iran’s safeguards declarations seriously affects the ability of the Agency to provide assurance of the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme.
Moreover, it is not acceptable that Iran proposed the Agency conduct additional verification activities contingent on the Agency agreeing to close the issue relating to Location 2 regardless of its outcome. The agency’s mandate should not be put under such a condition.
Japan acknowledges the Joint Statement between Iran and the Agency on 12 September and believes that what has been stated there, including high level talks to enhance cooperation and discuss current issues, should be duly implemented. Japan calls on Iran to provide the necessary substantive explanation in full and without further delay on these undeclared locations, and urges Iran to cooperate with the Agency fully and immediately.
Madame Chair,
Iran’s decision not to implement modified Code 3.1 is contrary to its legal obligations. Japan calls on Iran to fulfill all of its legal obligations under the Subsidiary Arrangements to its Safeguards Agreement which cannot be modified unilaterally and fully implement modified Code 3.1.
Japan requests the Director General to keep the Board of Governors informed on the issue of this agenda item.
Thank you, Madame Chair.