UK, France, Germany, US welcome IAEA resolution on Iran's nuclear safeguards Will Tehran Finally Cooperate?

The governments of the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the United States have issued a joint statement welcoming the adoption of a resolution by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors on Iran’s Safeguards Agreements.

The resolution, tabled on 19 November 2024, addresses Iran's ongoing failure to provide crucial information and cooperation necessary to resolve long-standing issues related to undeclared nuclear material detected at multiple sites in the country, Caliber.Az reports, citing the UK government's press service.

"We, the Governments of France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States welcome the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors’ adoption of a resolution on Iran," the statement reads.

The resolution highlights concerns over Iran’s continued lack of transparency, which has hindered the IAEA’s ability to assure the international community that Iran's nuclear programme remains peaceful.

Continued Non-Cooperation

The IAEA has repeatedly called on Iran to cooperate fully to clarify issues related to undeclared nuclear material. Despite numerous requests, Iran has failed to provide the necessary information and cooperation. "These issues are central to the Agency’s ability to provide assurance of the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme," the statement emphasizes.

Iran is legally obligated under its Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Safeguards Agreement to fully cooperate with the IAEA and account for all nuclear material and activities. However, despite efforts by the IAEA Director General to engage Iran in a substantive dialogue, the country has responded with threats and provocations, rather than addressing the outstanding concerns.

"Since 2019, the Agency has sought to clarify the outstanding safeguards issues and make progress. For nearly five years now, Iran has consistently failed to implement the commitments it has made to the Agency," the statement notes.

Urgent Need for Resolution

The IAEA Board has stressed the urgency of resolving these issues, with the new resolution reaffirming that Iran must urgently provide the necessary cooperation. It calls on the IAEA to produce a comprehensive assessment summarizing its findings from five years of investigations into Iran’s nuclear programme.

"We hope Iran will take the opportunity between now and that report to finally provide the information and cooperation needed to resolve these issues, so that the Agency is able to provide assurance that Iran’s programme remains exclusively peaceful, and the Board can close consideration of this matter," the statement continues.

If Iran fails to cooperate, the Board warns that further action will be necessary to address the situation.

"It will be important that the Board remain engaged to meet the challenge that Iran’s continued refusal to meet its NPT-related nuclear verification obligations would present, including to the credibility of the global IAEA safeguards regime," the statement adds.

Concerns Over Iran’s Response

The joint statement also expressed serious concern over Iran’s announcement on 22 November 2024, that instead of cooperating with the resolution, it plans to further expand its nuclear programme in ways that have no credible peaceful rationale.

"We note with serious concern Iran’s announcement on 22nd November 2024 that, instead of responding to the resolution with cooperation, it plans to respond with further expansion of its nuclear programme in ways that have no credible peaceful rationale," the governments stated.

The four countries expressed hope that Iran would return to dialogue and cooperation with the IAEA.

"We expect Iran to reengage on the path of dialogue and cooperation with the Agency," the statement concluded.

To recall, on November 21, one day after commending Iran's agreement to cap its uranium stockpiles, the UN's nuclear watchdog passed a censure motion denouncing Iran's lack of transparency on its nuclear activities.

The next day, on November 22, Tehran responded to the measure by announcing it was launching “new and advanced” centrifuges. A statement by Iran's Foreign Ministry and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran said the nuclear body chief has ordered "effective measures" in response to the new IAEA resolution. The measures include deploying a "significant range of new and advanced centrifuges of various types."

By Khagan Isayev