Statement by Ambassador Abdul Samad Minty, South Africa’s Governor to the IAEA Board of Governors at the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting, 2-6 June 2008

Agenda Item 7 C): Report of the Director General on the Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement and Relevant Provisions of Security Council Resolutions 1737 (2006) 1747 (2007) and 1803 (2008) in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Chairperson,

South Africa fully associates itself with the statement made on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement on this agenda item.

On behalf of my delegation, I thank Dr Mohammed ElBaradei for his report on the "Implementation of the NPT Safeguards Agreement in the Islamic Republic of Iran", as contained in document GOV/2008/15.  South Africa appreciates the professional and unbiased manner in which the Director General and Agency Staff continue to execute their mandate in relation to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Chairperson,

South Africa notes that in accordance with the latest report of the Director General, Iran has continued to provide the Agency with access to declared nuclear material and has provided the required nuclear material accountancy reports in connection with declared nuclear material and activities. The Agency has therefore been able to continue to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran.

Within the context of building confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme, the Board called upon Iran to re-establish full and sustained suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, and to reconsider the construction of a research reactor moderated by heavy water. Subsequently, these steps have been made a mandatory requirement by the UN Security Council, which Iran needs to abide by.

Although, regrettably, Iran has not implemented all of these steps as required by the Board and the UN Security Council, it is noted from the report that the current enrichment related activities of Iran remain under Agency containment and surveillance. South African welcomes the results of the environmental samples taken at fuel enrichment plant and the pilot fuel enrichment plant, which indicate that the plants have been operated as declared.

Chairperson,

Much progress has been made in resolving the questions identified in the work plan between Iran and the Agency. However, an issue that remains outstanding is the alleged studies on the green salt project, high explosives testing and the missile re-entry vehicle. South Africa shares the Director General’s view that this remains a matter of serious concern, and that clarification of these is critical to an assessment of the nature of Iran’s past and present nuclear programme.

South Africa is encouraged by, and welcomes the decision by Iran to co-operate with the Agency on the issue of the alleged studies. Through such co-operation Iran will be able to build further confidence in the peaceful nature of its nuclear programme.

The Member States that provided information to the Agency on the alleged high explosive studies and material relevant to the alleged missile re-entry vehicle also have a moral duty to ensure that this information is not manipulated in any way to cast false doubt on Iran’s nuclear programme. 

South Africa notes that the Agency has not detected the actual use of nuclear material in connection with the alleged studies. 

However, South Africa remains concerned that after so many years of verification activities in Iran, the Agency is still not in a position to conclude that there are no undeclared nuclear materials or activities in Iran and that the Agency is not yet in a position to determine the full nature of Iran’s nuclear programme. 

South Africa considers it important that Iran intensify its co-operation with the Agency and provide the clarifications as requested by the Agency.

By providing such clarifications on the remaining question, the foundation would be laid for a forward looking approach to be adopted in relation to Iran’s nuclear programme, which would not impact on its inalienable right to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
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It is for these reasons that South Africa believes that it is important for Iran to recommit itself to the implementation of the Additional Protocol. 

Chairperson,

I wish to reiterate that the IAEA remains the only international authority that can verify and provide the necessary assurances as to the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme.  For South Africa, it is extremely critical that the Agency’s verification process is continued and that the IAEA is not hampered, but rather we must focus on how to support the Agency.

As a country that remains firmly committed to the elimination of all weapons of mass destruction and to their non-proliferation, South Africa does not wish to see a nuclear weaponised Iran.  But at the same time, we also don’t want to see the denial of the right of any State Party to the NPT to exploit nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. 

The call on Iran to suspend its enrichment activities is related to the issue of building confidence, and may therefore under no circumstances become a goal in itself.  Neither should we allow this call to be used as a cover for those who wish to see an indefinite suspension or termination. If we allow this to happen, whether in the case of Iran or any other State Party to the NPT, we will unravel the very basis of the fundamental bargain of the NPT and disturb the carefully balanced rights and responsibilities of State Parties.

In conclusion Chairperson,

South Africa believes Iran has a unique opportunity to demonstrate that it has the resolve to clarify the final outstanding question with the Agency. The Director General and Agency Staff have our full trust and confidence as they continue to discharge their responsibility in relation to the peaceful nuclear programme of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

I thank you.

Issued by Department of Foreign Affairs
Private Bag X152
Pretoria
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4 June 2008