The United States representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) read the U.S. statement on Wednesday, June 5, coinciding with the issuance of an IAEA resolution against the Iranian regime.
The statement emphasized that the Iranian regime’s nuclear program has created a serious challenge to international security.
“Iran’s nuclear program poses such a serious challenge to international security,” the statement reads in part.
This statement, appreciating the efforts of the Director General and the IAEA Secretariat in engaging with the Iranian regime on serious and unresolved issues related to the implementation of Iran’s safeguards agreement under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of nuclear weapons (NPT), adds:
“We appreciate the Director General’s detailed reporting on these critical issues, which is essential to the international community’s understanding of the nature of Iran’s nuclear program and the serious shortcomings in Iran’s cooperation with the Agency to date.”
The U.S. statement described the current approach of the Iranian regime regarding the nuclear issue as “highly problematic” and specified:
“Iran has thus far failed to provide the legally required cooperation necessary to resolve long outstanding safeguards issues involving evidence of nuclear material at undeclared locations. Iran’s lack of cooperation continues despite the resolutions adopted by the Board in recent years.”
“Iran has repeatedly responded to the resolutions adopted by this Board in recent years with escalation instead of cooperation, including by producing 60 percent enriched uranium at its heavily fortified, underground facility at Fordow.” The statement added.
On June 5, the United States supported the resolution presented by the governments of France, Germany, and the United Kingdom, and specified that this resolution should be an initial step towards achieving a sustainable and effective solution for the Iranian regime’s nuclear program.
The U.S. also emphasized that Iran still has the opportunity to choose a different path from its current course and to provide the full cooperation required under its safeguard obligations.
The Board of Governors, consisting of thirty-five member countries, approved a resolution against the Iranian regime on Wednesday, calling on Iran to accelerate its steps to cooperate with the IAEA, the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, and to revoke its recent decision to bar experienced inspectors.
France, Germany, and the United Kingdom welcomed the adoption of the resolution in a joint statement and said they hope the Iranian regime will use this opportunity to resolve significant issues so that no further action by the council will be necessary.
These three European allies of the United States in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) further emphasized in their joint statement that the Iranian government must cooperate with the IAEA and provide credible technical explanations.
Twenty countries voted in favor of this resolution, twelve countries abstained, and only Russia and China opposed it.
