STATEMENT DELIVERED BY AMBASSADOR RAPULANE MOLEKANE, GOVERNOR/RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, AT THE IAEA BOARD OF GOVERNORS, 17 NOVEMBER 2022, VIENNA AUSTRIA

EXPLANATION OF VOTE: NPT SAFEGUARDS IN ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN

AGENDA ITEM 5C

Mr Chairperson

Safeguards agreements are central to international peace and security and are a pillar of the global non – proliferation regime. South Africa is an adherent advocate for the sacrosanct nature of safeguards and we are highly appreciative of and commend the impartiality, professionalism and commitment of the Agency in fulfilling its mandate. We remain gravely concerned that there has been no progress on Iran providing responses to the questions raised by the IAEA on the three sites. We however believe that the latest outreach activities that have been reported by the Director General should be given a chance. We are acutely aware that resolutions are the ultimate instruments available to the Board to send strong messages. We are therefore concerned that the high frequency of adoption of resolutions on the same subject within a short timeframe diminishes their value and impact. It is for this reason that my delegation decided to abstain on this resolution.

We reiterate our call for Iran to provide technically credible answers to the IAEA on the outstanding questions. Any further delay to the provisions of responses will be construed as an indication of lack of interest to provide answers and will necessitate a commensurate response.

Thank you Mr Chair.

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