U.K. FOREIGN SECRETARY JACK STRAW
COMMENTS ON IRAN'S NUCLEAR ACTIVITIES
U.K. FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH OFFICE
January 12, 2006
Edited Transcript
FOREIGN SECRETARY STRAW: I'm just leaving for Berlin to attend
a meeting between the three Foreign Ministers from France, Germany
and the United Kingdom and Javier Solana, the European Union's Foreign
Policy Chief. For two and a half years we've been working with Iran
and the rest of the international community to bring Iran in to compliance
with its very clear obligations not to do anything that leads to
suspicions that they're developing a nuclear weapons capability.
I regret to say that in September of last year because of Iran's failures the
Board of Governors of the Atomic Energy Agency declared Iran non compliant
with its obligations. Even since then we've been trying to bring Iran back
in to the fold. But the decision earlier this week by Iran to break the seals
on its uranium enrichment and related activity equipment means that we have
now to consider the next steps before us.
And at this meeting top of the agenda will be the calling of an emergency meeting
of the Board of Governors of the Atomic Energy Agency and the question of whether
we put before the Board of Governors the referral by the IAEA of Iran to the
Security Council.
I should just say this. When it became clear two and a half years ago that
Iran was in breach of its obligations under the Non Proliferation Treaty the
Board of Governors could have referred Iran immediately to the Security Council.
Some say that it should have done. We suspended that action in return for Iran
suspending its uranium enrichment activities. Iran has now broken a key part
of that deal, thank you.
REPORTER: Mr Straw do you think it now seems certain therefore and
it does from what you're saying that Iran will be referred to the UN Security
Council?
FOREIGN SECRETARY: Well it is highly probable, but the decision
to call an emergency meeting of the Board of Governors must be one for
France, Germany, the United Kingdom and Javier Solana combined. But the
Iranians themselves must recognise that by this impetuous action and by
other foreign policy decisions made by President Ahmadinejad they have
achieved what I didn't think they'd achieve a year or so ago which is almost
universal criticism by the international community.
REPORTER: And what sanctions could be taken if there is a referral?
What will happen?
FOREIGN SECRETARY: I'm not talking about sanctions at this stage.
There are many issues which go on the agenda of the Security Council and
which are actively discussed by the Security Council and where we then
get action without sanctions. Everybody knows the range of measures available
to the Security Council, but the first decision for us to make is whether
it goes on the agenda.
. . .
REPORTER: Can I just have one more quick question on this issue.
What do you think the views are of your US and Russian counterparts? How
do they feel about it?
FOREIGN SECRETARY:I think that the United States and Russia are
broadly in the same place as the European Foreign Ministers. The United
States has actively supported our efforts to resolve this within the Atomic
Energy Agency and to offer a great deal of inducements to Iran in return
for them sticking with their obligations. Russia too has been extremely
helpful and we've consulted with them very closely. It's for them to say
what their position is, but I think you'll find they're in a very similar
place to us. Thank you very much indeed.