The United Kingdom, France and Germany delivered a strong statement in support of the IAEA's work on the Iranian nuclear programme following talks in Frankfurt with the US, Russia and China on 2 September.

Read the statement

Madam Chairperson,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the United Kingdom, France and Germany. Our three countries fully associate themselves with the statement made earlier by Sweden on behalf of the European Union as well as candidate and associated countries.

Madam Chairperson,
We would first of all like to thank the Director General for his latest report on the implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement and relevant provisions of Security Council resolutions in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Again the report testifies to the fact that there continue to be substantial issues which urgently need to be clarified in order to establish the nature of the Iranian nuclear programme.

The list of Iranian failures remains a serious concern. As this Board has been repeatedly reminded Iran continues in its failure to comply with its legally binding obligations set out in Security Council resolutions 1696, 1737, 1747, 1803 and 1835. It continues in its disrespect for the requirements of the Board and its safeguards obligations.

The report of the Director General this time puts a particular emphasis on questions aimed at clarifying possible military dimensions of Iran's nuclear programme. We welcome that the Director General has again unambiguously set out in his report the nature and seriousness of the information available to the Secretariat. The Director General has made it quite clear: These are serious questions and they require from Iran serious answers.

Against the background of the evidence available it is inexcusable that Iran continues to refuse any degree of transparency or cooperation in clarifying these outstanding issues. This Iranian attitude further reinforces doubts relating to the nature of Iran's nuclear programme. These doubts will not go away unless Iran is ready to address them squarely. We encourage the Agency to continue actively to pursue its investigations and to report comprehensively to the Board on this matter.

Iran has been provided sufficient access to the documentation available to the Agency to respond substantively to the questions raised. And the Agency has underlined to Iran once again how it can satisfactorily address these questions without compromising its national security concerns.

We note that Iran has cooperated with the Agency in improving safeguards measures in Natanz and in providing access to the IR-40 reactor construction site in Arak. At the same time Iran has failed to implement the modified text of its Subsidiary Arrangements General Part, Code 3.1. Iran is the only state with significant nuclear activities not implementing the provisions of the revised code 3.1. Thus we call again on Iran to comply fully and without qualification with its safeguards obligations, to implement the provisions of the revised Code 3.1 and to submit the required design information on the nuclear research reactor under construction in Arak as for any nuclear project.

Madam Chairperson,
We would also like to draw attention to how crucially important it is that Iran implements the Additional Protocol, a requirement again emphasized in the Director General's report. As the Director General reminded us in his introductory statement to this Board Meeting: "Without the Protocol, the Agency will not be able to provide credible assurances about the absence of undeclared nuclear activities in Iran, especially given Iran's past record of failing to declare material and activities"

It is in Iran's hands and power to overcome the current profoundly unsatisfactory situation. Iran must address the lack of confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear programme. It should build not reduce confidence.

Madam Chairperson,
We expect and urge Iran to fully cooperate with the IAEA and meet without delay the requirements of this Board and the resolutions of the UN Security Council.

Effective multilateralism presupposes that countries do not only seek recognition of the rights but are also prepared fully to live up to their obligations. We have consistently stressed our recognition of Iran's right to civil nuclear energy; we are also entitled to expect Iran to comply with its obligations and responsibilities. Persistent defiance and a point blank refusal on the part of Iran to live up to its obligations are not acceptable.

Madam Chairperson,
France, UK and Germany together with the United States of America, the Russian Federation and China with the support of the EU High Representative have to set out for Iran with clarity and in detail how it can engage with us with a view to achieving a diplomatic solution through negotiation.

Iran's responses so far have been neither positive nor satisfactory. We again call on Iran to engage in meaningful negotiations with a view to achieving a comprehensive diplomatic solution. Iran should make use of the window of opportunity provided now. We have extended a hand and we appeal to Iran to take it.

Thank you, Madam Chairperson