ABC News: U.N. Security Council's Draft Statement on Iranian Nuclear Program

U.N. Security Council's Draft Statement on Iranian Nuclear Program

Security Council Asks Atomic Energy Agency to Report on Iranian Cooperation

March 17, 2006 — - The following is a draft of a statement currently under consideration by the United Nations Security Council on Iran's nuclear program.

The Security Council:

Notes with serious concern the many IAEA reports and resolutions related to Iran's nuclear programme, reported to it by the IAEA Director General, including the February IAEA Board Resolution (GOV/2006/14);

Also notes with serious concern that the Director General's report of 27 February lists a number of outstanding issues and concerns, including topics which could have a military nuclear dimension, resulting in an absence of confidence that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively for peaceful purposes;

Recalls the right of States Party to the NPT, in conformity with Articles I and II of that Treaty, to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination ;

Reaffirms that proliferation of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, as well as their means of delivery, constitutes a threat to international peace and security;

Endorses the IAEA Board of Governors' continuing role, and commends and encourages the Director General of the IAEA and its Secretariat for their ongoing professional and impartial efforts to resolve outstanding issues in Iran;

Notes with regret Iran's decision to resume enrichment-related activities and to suspend co-operation with the IAEA under the Additional Protocol;

Calls upon Iran to take the steps needed to begin building confidence in establishing the exclusively peaceful purpose of its nuclear programme and resolve outstanding questions by fully complying with the requirements set out by the IAEA Board, and specifically:

(i) to re-establish full and sustained suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, as set out in Board resolutions and to be verified by the IAEA;

(ii) to reconsider the construction of a research reactor moderated by heavy water;

(iii) promptly to ratify and implement in full the Additional Protocol;

(iv) pending its ratification, to resume acting in accordance with its provisions; and

(v) to implement transparency measures and engage in active cooperation, as set out by the Director General in GOV/2005/67, as the IAEA may request in support of its ongoing investigations;

Underlines that full and sustained suspension is essential to build confidence and address outstanding issues;

Expresses the conviction that continued Iranian enrichment-related activity would intensify international concern, whereas full, verified Iranian compliance with the requirements set out by the IAEA Board would re-open the way to a diplomatic, negotiated solution that guarantees Iran's nuclear programme is for exclusively peaceful purposes, and underlines the willingness of the international community to work positively for such a solution;

Welcomes the IAEA's ongoing investigations of all outstanding issues relevant to Iran's nuclear programme, and requests a report from the Director General of the IAEA to the Security Council, as well as to the IAEA Board of Governors, in [14] days, on Iranian compliance with the requirements set out by the IAEA Board, and agrees to keep this issue under review.