Statement by Ambassador KAIFU Atsushi at the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting starting on Wednesday, 22 November 2023 Item 5(e): NPT Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran
2023/11/23
Thank you, Chair,
Japan thanks the Director General for preparing the report on this agenda item, as well as the technical briefing by Deputy Director General Aparo and his team.
Japan highly commends the professional and impartial work of the Director General and the Secretariat in the implementation of safeguards. The Agency’s safeguards are a fundamental component for the nuclear non-proliferation regime under the NPT. Each Member State must act in a manner that preserves the integrity of the safeguards system in cooperation with the Agency.
Japan deeply regrets that Iran has not provided any information on the outstanding safeguards issues related to Turquzabad and ‘Varamin’, and that these issues remain unresolved despite the repeated calls of this Board including its resolution in November 2022. We urge Iran to provide the Agency with technically credible explanations for the presence of uranium particles found at these locations.
Japan is also seriously concerned that there has been no progress in the implementation of any of the three elements of the Joint Statement and that, according to the report, Iran appears to have “frozen” its implementation, for example, Iran described the Secretariat’s proposal for next steps as “not acceptable” but made no alternative proposal. As the Director General stated in his report, the Joint Statement has been agreed to by both parties, and we call on Iran to implement it in good faith without further delay.
Japan is seriously concerned about, once more again, under this agenda item, Iran’s de-designation of several experienced Agency inspectors, which directly and seriously affects the Agency’s ability to effectively conduct its verification activities particularly at the enrichment facilities. We echo the Director General’s condemnation of Iran’s decision and his assessment that Iran’s linking of the de-designation with statements made by IAEA Member States is extreme and unjustified. We take note that Iran is exploring possibilities to address the DG’s request to reconsider the withdrawal, and urge Iran to fully facilitate and enable the IAEA’s verification mission in Iran as per its CSA.
With regards to the discrepancy in the amount of nuclear material verified at the Uranium Conversion Facility, we take note that the Agency is currently assessing the updated information Iran provided and that, as agreed with Iran, the Agency will conduct additional verification activities at the facility in the near future.
Japan is deeply concerned by Iran’s statement that implementation of modified Code 3.1. is suspended and the initial Code 3.1. is now its legal obligation. Japan reiterates its calls for Iran to fulfill all of its obligations under the Subsidiary Arrangement including the modified Code 3.1 and to provide the information required by the Agency with regards to the new nuclear facilities.
Japan asks the Director General to keep the Board of Governors informed on this issue.
Thank you, Chair.
Japan thanks the Director General for preparing the report on this agenda item, as well as the technical briefing by Deputy Director General Aparo and his team.
Japan highly commends the professional and impartial work of the Director General and the Secretariat in the implementation of safeguards. The Agency’s safeguards are a fundamental component for the nuclear non-proliferation regime under the NPT. Each Member State must act in a manner that preserves the integrity of the safeguards system in cooperation with the Agency.
Japan deeply regrets that Iran has not provided any information on the outstanding safeguards issues related to Turquzabad and ‘Varamin’, and that these issues remain unresolved despite the repeated calls of this Board including its resolution in November 2022. We urge Iran to provide the Agency with technically credible explanations for the presence of uranium particles found at these locations.
Japan is also seriously concerned that there has been no progress in the implementation of any of the three elements of the Joint Statement and that, according to the report, Iran appears to have “frozen” its implementation, for example, Iran described the Secretariat’s proposal for next steps as “not acceptable” but made no alternative proposal. As the Director General stated in his report, the Joint Statement has been agreed to by both parties, and we call on Iran to implement it in good faith without further delay.
Japan is seriously concerned about, once more again, under this agenda item, Iran’s de-designation of several experienced Agency inspectors, which directly and seriously affects the Agency’s ability to effectively conduct its verification activities particularly at the enrichment facilities. We echo the Director General’s condemnation of Iran’s decision and his assessment that Iran’s linking of the de-designation with statements made by IAEA Member States is extreme and unjustified. We take note that Iran is exploring possibilities to address the DG’s request to reconsider the withdrawal, and urge Iran to fully facilitate and enable the IAEA’s verification mission in Iran as per its CSA.
With regards to the discrepancy in the amount of nuclear material verified at the Uranium Conversion Facility, we take note that the Agency is currently assessing the updated information Iran provided and that, as agreed with Iran, the Agency will conduct additional verification activities at the facility in the near future.
Japan is deeply concerned by Iran’s statement that implementation of modified Code 3.1. is suspended and the initial Code 3.1. is now its legal obligation. Japan reiterates its calls for Iran to fulfill all of its obligations under the Subsidiary Arrangement including the modified Code 3.1 and to provide the information required by the Agency with regards to the new nuclear facilities.
Japan asks the Director General to keep the Board of Governors informed on this issue.
Thank you, Chair.