Some Facts on Iran's Peaceful Nuclear Issue

June 29, 2012

Weapon Program: 

  • Nuclear
  • The Fatwa of Iran's Supreme leader on nuclear weapons, 19 February, 2012:

"The Iranian nation has never pursued and will never pursue nuclear weapons. There is no doubt that the decision makers in the countries opposing us know well that Iran is not after nuclear weapons, because the Islamic Republic, logically, religiously and theoretically, considers the possession of nuclear weapons a grave sin and believes the proliferation of such weapons is senseless, destructive and dangerous."

  • Under International Law, "to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy, to have full national nuclear fuel cycle, and to enrich Uranium for peaceful purposes" is an inherent and inalienable right of each sovereign State.
  • Taking into account the importance of diverse portfolio of energy sources, each State also has the "sovereign right to define its national energy policies, including fuel-cycle policies, without external pressure or interference."
  • Theses rights are based on the principle of "sovereignty of States" and also have been reaffirmed in particular by the NPT.
  • Neither the NPT nor the IAEA Statute or Safeguards agreements and even the Additional Protocol, prohibit enrichment.
  • In exercising these rights, NPT Parties have legal "obligation" "to prevent diversion of nuclear energy from peaceful uses to nuclear weapons."
  • Iran is firmly determined to exercise its inherent rights in all areas of peaceful uses of nuclear energy and fully committed to its obligations.
  • Iran's cooperation with the IAEA and the Agency's inspections in Iran are unprecedented in the history of the IAEA.
  • Continuous inspections in the most robust and intrusive manner, more than 4000 man-day routine inspections, and over 100 intrusive inspections are only some examples of Iran's cooperation with the IAEA.
  • To date, no single evidence of diversion to military purposes has been found.
  • Latest IAEA report corroborates Iran's cooperation with Agency and peaceful nature of its nuclear activities. It states: "the Agency continues to conduct verification activities under Iran's Safeguards Agreement" and "continues to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material at the nuclear facilities and Locations outside facilities declared by Iran under its Safeguards Agreement."
  • According to the report, despite sanctions, Iran's nuclear activities, in particular in the area of enrichment and enrichment related technology are progressing.
  • The said report states as well that Iran is not implementing Additional Protocol. The answer is clear: Additional Protocol is voluntary in nature and Iran has no obligation to implement it.
  • To accept the Agency's request to visit Parchin military complex does not fall within Iran's legal obligations with respect to the NPT.
  • Despite this, according to the IAEA's November 2011 report, "the Agency was permitted to visit the site twice in 2005 and did not uncover anything of relevance."
  • As a confidence-building measure, Iran stands ready to provide access to Parchin, only when the agreement on modality is reached with the IAEA.
  • Iran's Natanz and Fordow facilities have been declared to the IAEA well in advance of the due date and in accordance with the Iranian obligations under IAEA Safeguards Agreement. Their activities continue to be under the IAEA constant monitoring.
  • Earlier this year, the IAEA Deputy Director General for Safeguards visited Natanz and Fordow as well as other Iranian nuclear sites, including Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, Reactor and Heavy Water Production Plant at Arak, and the conversion and fuel fabrication facilities at Esfahan.
  • Iran also provided the IAEA Deputy Director General access to an installation where Research & Development on advanced centrifuges was taking place, which is beyond Iranian obligations and also unprecedented in the history of IAEA inspections.
  • In spite of the fact that the IAEA did not fulfill its obligations including delivery to Iran of the documents on the "Alleged Studies", Iran did submit to the Agency its assessment in a 117-page document.
  • As during recent talks with P5+1in Moscow demonstrated, Iran is determined to a faithful negotiations on interested issues to both parties based on mutual respect and a win-win solution.
  • Iran proposed a road-map for negotiations which includes guiding principles, structure, issues and steps, according to that any step by one party should be responded by a homogeneous and simultaneous step by the other party.
  • Iran made it clear that ambiguous and unrealistic proposals are counterproductive and may lead to more uncertainty between the parties.