Topnews, Statements

05. June 2018

STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR TEBOGO SEOKOLO, RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE/GOVERNOR OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY BOARD OF GOVERNORS, 05 JUNE 2018, VIENNA, AUSTRIA

AGENDA ITEM 5

Verification and Monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in Light of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015)

Chairperson,

South Africa welcomes the Director General’s report of 24 May 2018 on the verification and monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015), as set out in document GOV/2018/24.

Chairperson,

Since the adoption of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA) in 2015, and the subsequent decision of the Board of Governors authorising the IAEA to verify and monitor Iran’s compliance with its nuclear related commitments as outlined in the Agreement, the Director General has issued no less than ten (10) reports to the Board. Without exception, all the reports, including the one before this session, have confirmed that Iran is in compliance with its nuclear related JCPoA obligations.

Importantly, the Director General has also during previous sessions of the Board taken us into confidence on his high-level interactions with the leadership of Iran in order to facilitate the implementation of the Agreement and thereby building the necessary confidence between the IAEA and Iran. This undoubtedly contributed in paving the way for the continued smooth implementation of the Agreement.

We therefore believe that the statement in paragraph 23 of the report; namely “timely and proactive cooperation by Iran in providing such access would facilitate implementation of the Additional Protocol and enhance confidence”, must urgently be placed in the proper context. Failure to do so may create an incorrect and unfortunate impression, which runs contrary to the Director General’s conclusions on the matter of access, as confirmed in this and all his other reports to the Board in this regard.

We have commended the Director General for the well-considered manner in which he has thus far handled this matter, and have similarly commended Iran for facilitating the work of the Agency by creating the necessary conditions that allowed Agency inspectors to carry out their work. All these efforts in no small measure resulted in the effective implementation of the JCPoA in Iran as confirmed through the various technical reports of the Secretariat to the Board.

Chairperson,

In affirming the above, my delegation welcomes the fact that this latest report further confirms that the Agency’s inspectors have found that Iran has not deviated from its nuclear-related JCPoA obligations especially with regard to Heavy Water and Reprocessing; Activities related to Enrichment and Fuel; as well as Centrifuge Research and Development, Manufacturing and Inventory. South Africa further appreciates that the report confirms Iran’s continued implementation of transparency measures.

We are also pleased with the statement in the report confirming that Iran continues to provisionally apply the Additional Protocol to its Safeguards Agreement, pending its entry into force and that the Agency has continued to evaluate Iran’s declarations, and has conducted complementary access to all the sites and locations, which it needed to visit.

We furthermore acknowledge the clarification provided by Iran to the Agency on the construction of new facilities to be used for naval nuclear propulsion in response to the Agency’s request of 26 January 2018 in this regard, and in accordance with modified Code 3.1 of the Subsidiary Arrangements to Iran’s Safeguards Agreement.  

Chairperson,

As we are all aware, the JCPoA is the outcome of protracted negotiations between Iran and the EU3+3. Its adoption by all parties in 2015 was welcomed by all members of the Board of Governors and beyond, and was indeed historic. As part of this process, we importantly recall the Director General’s Final Assessment, which clarified “past and present” outstanding matters related to Iran’s nuclear programme, including the “past military dimensions”, together with the subsequent adoption of the Board’s resolution, closing its consideration of this item and providing the basis for the implementation of the Agreement. 

Accordingly, the JCPoA provides an illustration of the importance and utility of multilateral diplomacy, and how, working together, we can contribute effectively to create peace and harmony in the world. It is about how the peaceful resolution of disputes and the promotion of dialogue among states can have a significant positive impact towards the realisation of regional and international peace, stability and security.

Chairperson,

It is against this background that South Africa joins many who have expressed regret at the United States’ decision to withdraw from the JCPoA.

We urge all the remaining parties to the JCPoA to do everything in their power to keep the Agreement alive. Equally, we enjoin the Secretariat to continue to discharge its duties with diligence and care in an impartial manner.

With these remarks my delegation takes note of the report of the Director General as contained in document GOV/2018/24

I thank you.

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