Weapon Program:
- Nuclear
On September 24, the IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution over the Iranian nuclear program. The resolution concentrates on the remaining questions about Iran's nuclear activities and ways to resolve the situation. It is important that the document, citing IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei's report, notes the "good progress" achieved by Iran in rectifying omissions in compliance with its Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA.
The Russian Federation abstained in the vote along with China, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa and a group of other states. Our decision was prompted by the fact that the resolution contains some ambiguous assessments and controversial schemes to deal with the situation.
We are viewing the resolution as a signal for continuing and building up cooperation by the IAEA with Iran to clarify the remaining questions about Teheran's nuclear program. It is our belief that the potential of IAEA makes it possible to keep the settlement of the Iranian problem within the Agency.
We expect Iran to actively cooperate with the IAEA so as to close the remaining issues as soon as possible.
The Russian side considers it necessary to use the time before the upcoming next session in November of the IAEA Board of Governors to work out a constructive program of joint actions which on the one hand would provide reliable guarantees of the peaceful orientation of the Iranian nuclear program, and on the other - would guarantee Iran's right to peaceful uses of atomic energy.