For the first time, the IAEA has had access to a location at the Parchin site which the IAEA regards as essential for the clarification of outstanding issues concerning Iran’s nuclear programme, Director General Yukiya Amano said this morning.
Mr Amano briefed the IAEA’s Board of Governors on Monday about his visit to Iran over the weekend. IAEA access to the Parchin site is a key provision of the Road-map for the clarification of past and present outstanding issues regarding Iran’s nuclear programme, signed by the two sides in July. Previously, the IAEA had been able to observe the location only using satellite imagery.
“Significant progress has been achieved in the implementation of the Road-map,” Mr Amano told the media following the Board meeting.
The Board received a detailed account of Mr Amano’s talks with President Hassan Rouhani, Vice-President of Iran and President of the Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran, Ali Akbar Salehi, and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Access to the location at the Parchin site was important in order to clarify issues related to possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear programme, Mr Amano said.
During his visit to Iran, Mr Amano also held discussions with senior Iranian government officials on issues related to the future implementation of Iran’s nuclear related commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, recently agreed between Iran and the six countries and the European Union, known as the E3/EU+3.
The Road-map sets out a timeline of activities for the two sides to complete before the end of the year.
“Much work remains in the weeks ahead,” Mr Amano said. “Full implementation of the Road-map is essential to clarify all outstanding past and present issues regarding Iran’s nuclear programme.”
New Board Chair
Also at its meeting today, the IAEA Board of Governors appointed by acclamation the Governor from Brazil Ambassador Laércio Antonio Vinhas as the Chairman of the Board for 2015-2016. His term commences today for a period of one year. He replaces the Governor from Slovakia, Marta Ziaková.
Eleven countries were elected last week to serve on the 35-member IAEA Board of Governors for the two-year period 2015-2017. The action was taken by Member States at the IAEA General Conference in Vienna. The newly elected Board members are: Belarus, Ghana, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Namibia, Pakistan, Paraguay, Philippines, Spain, Turkey and Uruguay.