Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 24 June 2004
86 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report to Dáil Éireann on the situation in Iran, with particular reference to the development of weaponry with a nuclear capability by that country and the exchange of nuclear intelligence with other states; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18796/04]
View answerIt has been almost two years since Iran's undeclared nuclear programme was first brought to the attention of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the director general of the agency has presented five reports on the matter since June 2003. The most recent consideration of the issue took place in Vienna from 14-18 June at the latest meeting of the IAEA board of governors.
The board considered the latest report on Iran produced by the agency's director general, Dr. Mohamed El Baradei, and adopted by consensus a resolution on Iran. This resolution, the fourth that the board has adopted on this issue, contains both positive and negative elements and takes up a number of issues identified by the director general both in his report and in his introductory statement to the board of governors.
On the positive side the agency has been making steady progress in understanding the nature and extent of Iran's nuclear programme and in resolving many aspects of Iran's uranium conversion and laser enrichment activities. Iran has continued to implement the terms of its additional protocol and has provided an initial declaration pursuant to its obligations under the protocol. This declaration should provide broader information about Iran's nuclear and nuclear-related activities and will facilitate the IAEA's assessment of the correctness and completeness of the information already provided by Iran on its past and present nuclear activities. In addition Iran has decided, on a voluntary basis, to suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities.
However, the resolution also deplores the fact that Iran's co-operation has not been as full, timely and proactive as it should have been and calls upon Iran to take all necessary steps on an urgent basis to help resolve outstanding questions. The resolution expresses the board's regret that Iran's commitment with respect to the suspension of enrichment-related and reprocessing activities has not been comprehensively implemented and calls on Iran to correct all remaining shortcomings.
During the IAEA's ongoing verification activities in Iran, questions arose in relation to the source of equipment important for use in Iran's programme. The agency signalled its intention to undertake follow-up activities — including with other relevant parties — in regard to information received about the origins of such material. In his latest report, the director general reiterates the need for co-operation from all relevant parties and notes that some information has been received from another state in this connection. The resolution adopted recently by the board recalls that full and prompt co-operation with the agency on the part of all third countries is essential in the clarification of certain outstanding questions.
On 18 June, Ireland, on behalf of the European Union, delivered a statement to the board of governors which supported the director general's call for co-operation from third countries. The statement also welcomed the adoption of the resolution and reiterated our call on Iran for full proactive and transparent co-operation over the coming months so that a complete and final picture can be presented as soon as possible to the board of governors for its consideration.
The European Council on 17-18 June stressed the Union's desire to move towards a closer relationship with Iran, on the basis of action by Iran to address the EU's concerns regarding Iran's nuclear programme, the fight against terrorism, human rights, and Iran's approach to the Middle East Peace Process. The European Council noted the ongoing work of the IAEA in Iran and urged full co-operation with the agency in a spirit of full transparency in relation to its nuclear programme, with a view to solving all outstanding questions.
