Statement by the Iranian Government and visiting EU Foreign Ministers, 21 October 2003 - IAEA.org
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Statement by the Iranian Government and visiting EU Foreign Ministers
21 October 2003
Upon the invitation of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran the Foreign Ministers of Britain, France and Germany paid a visit to Tehran on October 21, 2003.
The Iranian authorities and the ministers, following extensive consultations, agreed on measures aimed at the settlement of all outstanding IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency] issues with regards to the Iranian nuclear programme and at enhancing confidence for peaceful cooperation in the nuclear field.
The Iranian authorities reaffirmed that nuclear weapons have no place in Iran's defence doctrine and that its nuclear programme and activities have been exclusively in the peaceful domain. They reiterated Iran's commitment to the nuclear non-proliferation regime and informed the ministers that:
The Iranian Government has decided to engage in
full co-operation with the IAEA to address and resolve through full transparency all requirements and outstanding issues of the Agency and clarify and correct any possible failures and deficiencies within the IAEA.
To promote confidence with a view to removing existing barriers for co-operation in the nuclear field:
having received the necessary clarifications, the
Iranian Government has decided to sign the IAEA Additional Protocol and commence ratification procedures. As a confirmation of its good intentions the Iranian Government will continue to co-operate with the Agency in accordance with the Protocol in advance of its ratification.
while Iran has a right within the nuclear non-proliferation regime to develop nuclear energy for peaceful purposes it has
decided voluntarily to suspend all uranium enrichment and reprocessing activities as defined by the IAEA.
Dialogue
The Foreign Ministers of Britain, France and Germany welcomed the decisions of the Iranian Government and informed the Iranian authorities that:
Their governments recognise the right of Iran to enjoy peaceful use of nuclear energy in accordance with the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
In their view the Additional Protocol is in no way intended to undermine the sovereignty, national dignity or national security of its State Parties.
In their view full implementation of Iran's decisions, confirmed by the IAEA's Director General, should enable the immediate situation to be resolved by the IAEA Board.
The three governments believe that this will open the way to a dialogue on a basis for longer term co-operation which will provide all parties with satisfactory assurances relating to Iran's nuclear power generation programme. Once international concerns, including those of the three governments, are fully resolved Iran could expect easier access to modern technology and supplies in a range of areas.
They will co-operate with Iran to promote security and stability in the region including the establishment of a zone free from weapons of mass destruction in the Middle East in accordance with the objectives of the United Nations.
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and now,
March 2ND, 2004: IAEA Director General Says Iran Verification "Moving in Right Direction"
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IAEA Director General ElBaradei said Iran is showing greater cooperation with the IAEA in the verification of its nuclear programme. "If you look at the big picture, we are clearly moving in the right direction. If you compare where we were a year ago and where we are today, that's a sea change"
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We should note that the accusations levelled against Iran, and passed to the IAEA (an aggressive nuclear weapons programme) were already proven baseless. The motives were obviously political, on the part of the US; and economic, on the part of Russia (Russia seeks to maintain Iran as a dependent nuclear fuel customer). The IAEA has to follow through, regardless.
), and now they face sanctions, largely for their "harbouring terrorists" (in prisons) and their "human rights abuses" (the thugs practice torture). As the Syrian ambassador to the US put it, "They tell us if we don't do this, all hell will open up on Syria. We're caught between fires. We're damned if we do, damned if we don't".
