IAEA

Statement by the Governor of the Russian Federation, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation

to the International Organizations in Vienna Mikhail I. Ulyanov under item 5 of the provisional agenda for

the session IAEA Board of Governors

Dear Madam Chairperson,

We are grateful to the IAEA Director General and the leadership of the Department of Safeguards for preparing a comprehensive report on Verification and monitoring in Iran in the light of UN Security Council resolution 2231 (2015).

We note with satisfaction the confirmation from by theIAEA that Iran is fully implementing its obligations under the JCPOA. The responsible behaviour of Teheran, which continues to maintain an unprecedentedly high level of cooperation with the Agency even in the most difficult conditions, deserves all praise. The Iranian nuclear program is still a model of transparency. These achievements stand high and need to be treated with utmost care.

It is necessary, however, to alarm that the situation around the JCPOA is deteriorating as we speak. The reason is the irresponsible line of the United States. Washington has not only pulled out from the “nuclear deal”, but also set out to undermine it, primarily by blocking the implementation of the economic part of this agreement. By using methods of blatant blackmail and intimidation, the United States seeks to force other countries to curtail legitimate trade and economic ties with Iran, primarily in the oil and banking sectors. In essence, they are impertinently trying to limit other States’ sovereignty and force them to abandon their readiness to contribute to the implementation of the JCPOA in accordance with UN Security Council resolution 2231. Moreover, since May of this year the United States has extended its destructive line to certain elements of the nuclear part of the JCPOA, threatening to impose sanctions for exporting excess amounts of enriched uranium and heavy water from Iran. In fact, Washington is literally pushing Tehran out of the “nuclear deal” and provokes it to take radical retaliatory steps. We urge the United States to reconsider this approach, that is torpedoing one of the greatest achievements in the field of nuclear non-proliferation, which allows the international community to be confident in the exclusively peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program. If the appropriate toolkit that provides this confidence through the JCPOA is undermined, the entire responsibility will fall on the United States.

We noted with understanding Iranian decision to suspend the fulfillment of some of its voluntary commitments under the JCPOA. Understanding goes to the fact that Tehran is referring to paragraphs 26 and 36 of the JCPOA to substantiate its steps. At the same time, we urge our Iranian partners not to succumb to provocations and refrain from further escalation, with the understanding that the remaining parties to the JCPOA will make every effort to restore the balance between the nuclear and economic components of this agreement. For our part, we will continue practical work in this direction.

We urge other economic partners of Iran not to succumb to external pressure, bearing in mind that in the current circumstances commercial ties with Iran also have an important political dimension as a contribution to the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2231, strengthening the nuclear non-proliferation regime, and preventing the increasing threat of destabilization in Middle East region.

Thank you, Madam Chair.