Global Concerns on Iranian Regime’s NPT Violations

iaea image npt session vieanna 02082023
Written by
Mohammad Sadat Khansari

Source: IAEA Image under Creative Commons License
At the Conference on the Review of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) taking place in Vienna from July 31 to August 11, representatives from various countries addressed pressing concerns regarding the Iranian regime’s nuclear activities and denounced the violations of its commitments.

Held at a critical juncture, the conference focused on assessing the regime’s nuclear program and its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). As outlined by the United Nations Information Service (UNIS), the delegates underscored the importance of transparency, cooperation, and adherence to the NPT provisions to foster a peaceful and non-proliferated world.

At the conference, the representative of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) stated, “The IAEA has focused on Iran’s nuclear activities since 2002. For over two years, the Agency has not been able to perform the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) verification and monitoring activities in relation to the production and inventory of centrifuges, rotors and bellows, heavy water and uranium ore concentrate, including in the period after June 2022 when no surveillance and monitoring equipment related to JCPOA was installed and operating.”

“With regards to the implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement in Iran, the process of implementing the Joint Statement by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) and the IAEA of March has started and some progress has been made, but not as much as
the Director General had hoped for. The remaining outstanding safeguards issues stemming from Iran’s obligations under the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement still need to be resolved for the Agency to be in a position to provide assurance that Iran’s nuclear program is exclusively peaceful.”

Representatives from various countries including Germany, the United States, Switzerland, Sweden, Finland, and Norway, as well as the representative of the initiative group consisting of Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, the Philippines, Poland, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates called for a halt to the development of regime’s nuclear program and its violations of the NPT.

The representative of Germany expressed deep concern about the unprecedented expansion of Iran’s nuclear activities and strongly urged Iran’s regime to cease the escalation. The representative reminded Iran’s regime that it is obligated under international law to resolve the remaining issues of the NPT with full and transparent cooperation with the IAEA.

The representative of the United States also said that Tehran has still not fully answered the International Atomic Energy Agency’s questions regarding indications of nuclear materials and activities in Iran that had not been previously declared.

The representative of the initiative group consisting of Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, Nigeria, the Philippines, Poland, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates expressed deep concern over the escalation of tensions and the regime’s continued failure to comply with nuclear commitments, including the expansion of uranium enrichment beyond agreed limits. He urged the Iranian regime to respect its NPT commitments, return to full implementation of the Additional Protocol and transparency measures related to the Comprehensive Joint Plan of Action (JCPOA), and fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency to resolve remaining issues.

The Swedish representative warned about the challenges of nuclear proliferation in the region, including Tehran’s non-cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and continuous violations of the JCPOA, and called on the regime to provide all necessary information to the IAEA and promptly implement the Additional Protocol and JCPOA verification measures.

The representative of Switzerland in the conference on the review of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) demanded that Iran’s regime fully cooperate with the International Atomic Energy Agency to respond to outstanding questions regarding its nuclear commitments.

Finland’s representative also expressed concern about Iran’s nuclear program development and actions that contradict the JCPOA and its commitments. He called on the regime to promptly implement all transparency measures without further delay.

The Norwegian representative demanded that the regime changes its nuclear program’s course, resume full cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, and fulfill its commitments within the framework of the JCPOA.

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