Statement by Ambassador Abdul Samad Minty, South Africa's Governor to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors at the IAEA Board of Governors meeting, Vienna

Agenda item 6: Nuclear verification

Implementation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Safeguards Agreement and relevant provisions of Security Council resolutions 1 737 (2006) and 1 747 (2007) in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Chairperson,

At the outset, my delegation fully associates itself with the statement made by the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) on this agenda item.

Chairperson,

My delegation thanks the Director-General, Dr Mohammed ElBaradei, for his report on the "Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and Relevant Provisions of Security Council Resolutions in the Islamic Republic of Iran", as contained in document Gov/2007/22.

South Africa wishes to reiterate its sincere appreciation to the Director-General and the agency staff for their continued highly professional, objective and unbiased approach to resolve the outstanding issues related to Iran's nuclear programme, in accordance with the ongoing verification activities.

Chairperson,

South Africa has carefully studied the Director-General's latest report and notes that the Agency is able to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran, and that the Agency is implementing a modified safeguards approach for Iran's Fuel Enrichment Plant (FEP), which include monthly inspections and design information verification visits as well as unannounced inspections and containment and surveillance measures.

We commend Iran for this co-operative approach in implementing its obligations in terms of its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, and encourage Iran to continue and expand such co-operation. South Africa also welcomes the information provided in the report that there are no indications of reprocessing activities at those sites referred to in the report.

Chairperson,

As all members of the IAEA are aware and as stated two weeks ago in Parliament by South Africa's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr N Dlamini Zuma, the evolving confrontation between the big powers and Iran over its peaceful use of nuclear energy has escalated in recent months and the matter has effectively been shifted to the United Nations Security Council from the Board of Governors.

Chairperson,

My Minister added that not only has the co-operation between Iran and the Board deteriorated, but South Africa has consistently warned that taking the matter to the Security Council from the IAEA involves serious risks of escalating confrontation which could easily spiral into a dangerous situation for the region and the world and it also involves the risk of reducing the verification of the role of the Agency. This would in effect mean that the international community would have no authoritative and verified information about the precise scale and nature of Iran's nuclear programme.

Chairperson,

My Minister added that it is therefore not a surprise that the Director-General's report continues to indicate that Iran has not implemented the key requirements of the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions on suspending enrichment-related activities, and has not suspended work on all heavy water-related projects, including construction of the research reactor moderated by heavy water at Arak (IR-40), but in fact have expanded them.

South Africa is concerned that Iran continues to put additional restrictions and limitations on the Agency's verification activities including the Agency's right to re-verify design information at Arak. This is regrettable, and Iran should comply with the legally binding obligations of the United Nation Security Council resolutions.

Furthermore, it is also of concern that no progress has been made on resolving the long outstanding issues related to uranium contamination, and acquisition of centrifuge technology.

My Minister also said that South Africa shares the concern of the Agency that due to a lack of information received from Iran, the Agency's overall level of knowledge of certain aspects of Iran's nuclear related activities has deteriorated. South Africa views this situation with a sense of deep concern, as this means that the international community would have no authoritative and verified information about the precise scale and nature of Iran's nuclear programme, thereby further eroding confidence and contributing to the escalation of confrontation.

South Africa therefore calls on Iran to reconsider its decision not to provide information to the Agency under the Additional Protocol and initiate steps, including allowing access to declared facilities to enable the Agency to undertake design verification visits, which would ensure that the Agency's knowledge base of Iran's nuclear related activities is enhanced and do not deteriorate further.

Chairperson,

As stated by Minister Dlamini Zuma, and I quote: "At every point we have called for dialogue and negotiations, and in the current crisis, encourage all parties to spare no effort to seek a comprehensive and sustainable solution. South Africa will continue to encourage all parties concerned to enter into a dialogue and negotiations in order to seek a comprehensive and sustainable solution. South Africa and the international community do not wish to see Iran develop nuclear weapons, but equally we do not want to see war over Iran's nuclear programme".

Chairperson,

South Africa recalls that in May 2007, we as Member States participated in the first preparatory meeting for the 2010 NPT Review conference and called for the elimination of all nuclear weapons. We also insisted, as before, that developing countries, including South Africa, cannot be denied their right to peaceful nuclear technology as provided for in the NPT.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has the opportunity now to demonstrate and reassure the international community that all aspects of its nuclear programme are peaceful. South Africa calls on Iran to use every opportunity to resolve the few remaining outstanding issues with the Agency and to restore the international community's belief that its nuclear programme is peaceful.

In conclusion, Chairperson, South Africa encourages all parties to refrain from any actions that would lead to a further deterioration of the crisis. We also believe that we need to seize the opportunities provided through innovative leadership, which the Director-General is also providing, in order to find an early solution to the growing crisis, which could deteriorate sharply and result in a major catastrophe that would be disastrous for all concerned.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
13 June 2007