Kurt M. Campbell Deputy Secretary of State | Official Website
The governments of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States have expressed approval for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors' recent resolution concerning Iran. This resolution addresses Iran's ongoing failure to provide necessary information and cooperation to clarify unresolved issues related to undeclared nuclear material found at several locations in the country. These matters are crucial for the IAEA to ensure that Iran's nuclear program is exclusively peaceful.
According to a joint statement by these governments, "Iran is legally obligated under its Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Safeguards Agreement to cooperate fully with the IAEA and account for all nuclear material and activities." The Board had previously stated in June that further action would be required if Iran did not offer full cooperation with the Agency regarding its safeguards obligations. Despite efforts from the Director General to engage Iran in dialogue, no substantial progress has been made since 2019.
The new resolution emphasizes the urgency for Iran to resolve these issues and supports the IAEA's continued engagement with Iran. It requests a comprehensive assessment summarizing five years of investigations by the Agency. The statement urges Iran to provide necessary information and cooperation before this report is produced, allowing assurance that its nuclear program remains peaceful.
However, there is concern over Iran's announcement on November 22, 2024, indicating plans to expand its nuclear program instead of cooperating with the resolution. The joint statement concludes with an expectation for Iran "to reengage on the path of dialogue and cooperation with the Agency."
