November 16, 2004

Excerpts

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Q On Iran, you have always emphasized that it's important to verify that anything Iran agreed to regarding the suspension of its uranium, they seem to be saying they will do the suspension but only (close?) to the date of the next board meeting. So it doesn't seem to give you time to do any verification. Does that concern you?

MR. BOUCHER: Well, we'll have to see where we are at that moment. It is very important not only that Iran reach agreement and make promises, as they have, but that the International Atomic Energy Agency be able to verify the suspension, particularly the suspension of all uranium enrichment-related and reprocessing activities.

The proof of any agreement is its implementation, and we want to see that the director general is able to report to the IAEA board that this step and others are being implemented at the time of the meeting.

So we would encourage all parties to get on with this work. We are looking for the report that the director general will be able to give us at the time of the meeting. And it is very important that he be able to report that the agency has begun to verify the suspension.

Q Have you now gotten your -- a detailed readout on the --

MR. BOUCHER: Yeah, we've heard more from the Europeans. We had a visit yesterday from people from their embassies in Washington -- the EU Three. We've talked to people in capitals. We've also talked to people in Vienna. I think you may have all seen the agreement that they reached with Iran. It's on the Web.

But as I said, the -- this is a useful step, and we all know the Europeans have gone out, as they said they would; after the G-8, reached agreement on what was necessary for Iran to build confidence in the world that they were not developing a nuclear weapon. So they went out and they pursued this with Iran. The Iranians have said they agree now to a suspension of all reprocessing activities and enrichment activities. But it remains to be verified and reported, and that's what we're really looking for.

Q (Off mike) -- step?

MR. BOUCHER: Again, it's sort of based on the premise better have some -- better to have somebody agree to something than not agree to something. But it doesn't really make a difference until it's implemented and verified, and that's what counts.

Q And do you have any -- just one last one on this -- I mean, even though the people who are agreeing to it have often broken their word?

MR. BOUCHER: That's why in this case even more one would say that verification and sustainability are the two most important aspects of this, because we have seen agreements before where Iran has made promises that weren't kept. And Iran has a whole history of what's been reported to the board previously -- 18 years of covert activities that were not disclosed. So it is very important that this be -- as I said, that it be verified and that it be sustained over time.

Q Are you -- I'm sorry. I did say that was the last one, but one more occurred to me on this.

MR. BOUCHER: Okay.

Q Are you troubled at the prospect that this agreement may undercut what has been your long-standing position that you want to refer Iran to the Security Council at the next board meeting?

MR. BOUCHER: We still think that there's a solid basis for that. We'll see where other people are when we get to the meeting. But I think it's important to remember that this is the seventh report now that the secretary-general is providing us on Iran's activities, that they have documented in the previous six reports Iranian breaches of its obligations and its commitments. That remains the case, and it is important for everybody to remember that. Whether people will be ready to refer things or move forward in that direction, we'll have to see when we get to the meeting.

And that, one has to say, depends first and foremost on whether Iran is implementing these commitments and suspending all activity in a verifiable way.

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