IAEA chief: Uncertain about Iran’s undeclared nuclear material, activities

The International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Yukiya Amano said yesterday that his agency was not in a position to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran, the Anadolu Agency reported.

“We cannot conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities,” Amano told a gathering of world leaders at the opening of the 2015 NPT Review Conference in New York.

Amano pointed out that there have been important developments concerning safeguards implementation in Iran since the Islamic Republic and his agency signed in November 2013 a Framework for Cooperation Agreement where Iran agreed to cooperate further to resolve all present and past issues.

Amano stressed his agency will do everything to clarify if Iran has nuclear activities or material with possible military dimensions.

“Implementation by Iran of the additional protocol would enable the agency to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in the country,” he said.

Amano welcomed the recent announcement by the P5+1 countries which include China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK and the US and Iran on key parameters for a joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, stressing that his agency will continue to play an essential role, including in verifying nuclear-related measures under the comprehensive agreement which we all “hope will be reached between Iran and the six countries”.