SECURITY COUNCIL, IN PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT, UNDERLINES IMPORTANCE OF IRAN’S RE-ESTABLISHING FULL, SUSTAINED SUSPENSION OF URANIUM-ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES

Security Council

5403^rd Meeting (PM)

SECURITY COUNCIL, IN PRESIDENTIAL STATEMENT, UNDERLINES IMPORTANCE OF IRAN ’S

RE-ESTABLISHING FULL, SUSTAINED SUSPENSION OF URANIUM-ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES

Calls on Iran to Take Steps Required by IAEA Board

Of Governors; Requests Report from IAEA Director General in 30 Days

Noting with serious concern Iran’s resumption of uranium enrichment-related activities and its suspension of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Security Council underlined this afternoon the importance of re-establishing full and sustained suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development.

According to a statement read out by César Mayoral ( Argentina), its President for March, the Council expressed the conviction that such suspension, and full, verified compliance with the requirements set out by the IAEA Board of Governors, would contribute to a diplomatic, negotiated solution that would guarantee Iran’s nuclear programme was for exclusively peaceful purposes.  The Council underlined the international community’s willingness to work positively for such a solution, which would also benefit nuclear non-proliferation elsewhere.

The Council noted with serious concern that the IAEA Director General’s report of 27 February (document GOV/2006/14) listed a number of outstanding issues, including topics which could have a military nuclear dimension, and that the Agency was unable to conclude that there were no undeclared nuclear materials or activities in Iran.  It called upon Iran to take the essential steps required by the IAEA Board of Governors to build confidence in the exclusively peaceful purpose of its nuclear programme and to resolve outstanding questions.

Expressing its strong support for the role of the IAEA Board of Governors, the Council encouraged and commended the Director-General and the IAEA secretariat for their professional, impartial efforts and underlined the necessity of the Agency’s continuing its work to clarify all outstanding issues relating to Iran’s nuclear programme.

The Council requested that the Director-General submit to the Board of Governors and to itself, within 30 days, a report on Iranian compliance with the steps required by the Board.

Beginning at 4:30 p.m., the meeting adjourned at 4:35 p.m.

Presidential Statement

The full text of presidential statement S/PRST/2006/15 reads, as follows:

“The Security Council reaffirms its commitment to the Treaty on the Non Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and recalls the right of States Party, in conformity with articles I and II of that Treaty, to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination.

“The Security Council notes with serious concern the many IAEA reports and resolutions related to Iran’s nuclear programme, reported to it by the IAEA Director General, including the February IAEA Board resolution (GOV/2006/14).

“The Security Council also notes with serious concern that the Director General’s report of 27 February 2006 (GOV/2006/15) lists a number of outstanding issues and concerns, including topics which could have a military nuclear dimension, and that the IAEA is unable to conclude that there are no undeclared nuclear materials or activities in Iran.

“The Security Council notes with serious concern Iran’s decision to resume enrichment-related activities, including research and development, and to suspend cooperation with the IAEA under the Additional Protocol.

“The Security Council calls upon Iran to take the steps required by the IAEA Board of Governors, notably in the first operative paragraph of its resolution GOV/2006/14, which are essential to build confidence in the exclusively peaceful purpose of its nuclear programme and to resolve outstanding questions, and underlines, in this regard, the particular importance of re-establishing full and sustained suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, to be verified by the IAEA.

“The Security Council expresses the conviction that such suspension and full, verified Iranian compliance with the requirements set out by the IAEA Board of Governors would contribute to a diplomatic, negotiated solution that guarantees Iran’s nuclear programme is for exclusively peaceful purposes, and underlines the willingness of the international community to work positively for such a solution, which will also benefit nuclear non-proliferation elsewhere.

“The Security Council strongly supports the role of the IAEA Board of Governors and commends and encourages the Director General of the IAEA and its secretariat for their ongoing professional and impartial efforts to resolve outstanding issues in Iran, and underlines the necessity of the IAEA continuing its work to clarify all outstanding issues relating to Iran’s nuclear programme.

“The Security Council requests in 30 days a report from the Director General of the IAEA on the process of Iranian compliance with the steps required by the IAEA Board, to the IAEA Board of Governors and in parallel to the Security Council for its consideration.”

* *** *

For information media • not an official record