STATEMENT BY AMBASSADOR TEBOGO SEOKOLO, RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVE/GOVERNOR OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY BOARD OF GOVERNORS, 12 SEPTEMBER 2018, VIENNA, AUSTRIA

AGENDA ITEM 6: Verification and Monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015)

South Africa welcomes the Director General’s report of 30 August 2018 on verification and monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 (2015), as contained in document GOV/2018/33.

Chairperson

We have before us in this Board meeting one more report of the Director General, which, as in previous occasions and more recently during the June Board, confirms Iran’s continuing compliance with its nuclear related obligations under the JCPoA. South Africa commends Iran’s commitment and on-going compliance with these obligations, including provisionally applying the Additional Protocol to its Safeguards Agreement in accordance with Article 17 (b) of the AP, pending its entry into force. My Delegation thanks the Secretariat for the professional manner in which it continues to carry out its verification and monitoring activities in Iran as mandated.

Whilst we continue to express regret at the withdrawal of the United States of America from the JCPoA, we wish to encourage other signatories to continue deploying their best efforts to preserve this Agreement. The implementation of this agreement is fundamental in reinforcing non-proliferation and regional peace and security. The JCPoA remains the only viable framework to address Iran’s nuclear matters. This Agreement represents the outcome of painstaking, skilful, collaborative work, and provides an apt illustration of the significance of multilateral diplomacy in the conduct of relations among nations.

With these remarks, my Delegation takes note of the report of the Director General as set out in document GOV/2018/33.

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