Madam Chairperson,
I requested that this meeting of the Board of Governors be convened to consider a request for the Agency to extend its monitoring and verification activities in the Islamic Republic of Iran in relation to the Joint Plan of Action.
As you will recall, China, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom and the United States agreed on the Joint Plan of Action with Iran in November 2013.
The Plan is aimed at achieving "a mutually-agreed long-term comprehensive solution that would ensure Iran's nuclear programme will be exclusively peaceful."
The countries concerned asked the Agency to undertake monitoring and verification of nuclear-related measures to be implemented by Iran. With the endorsement of the Board of Governors, the Agency has been carrying out the requested activities.
In July, the seven countries agreed to extend the Joint Plan of Action until 24 November 2014 and asked the Agency to continue to undertake the necessary nuclear-related monitoring and verification activities.
Last month, the seven countries agreed to extend the Joint Plan of Action further – until 30 June 2015. They asked the Agency to continue its existing work and to undertake some additional activities under the Plan.
Our work in relation to the Joint Plan of Action has involved a significant increase in the frequency of the Agency’s in-field verification activities, including at additional locations. It has also required us to procure and install more safeguards equipment, undertake more sample analysis and carry out more analytical work.
We have issued monthly reports on the status of Iran's nuclear programme in relation to the "voluntary measures" that Iran agreed to undertake.
In the period until 30 June 2015, we estimate that the Agency's monitoring and verification activities in relation to the Joint Plan of Action will cost some 5.5 million euros.
We can fund around half a million euros through re-prioritization of our work, re-scheduling of activities and re-allocation of staff. A further 0.4 million euros are expected to be available from previous contributions. But 4.6 million euros in voluntary extrabudgetary contributions will still be required. I invite Member States which are in a position to do so to make the necessary funding available as soon as possible, in order to ensure smooth continuation of our activities. As I stated in my report, in the event of subsequent developments in connection with the Joint Plan of Action, I will re-assess the Agency's needs and report to the Board as necessary.
Madam Chairperson,
Our activities in relation to the Joint Plan of Action, in addition to the work which we were already undertaking under our safeguards agreement with Iran and the Framework for Cooperation which we agreed with Iran in November 2013, have greatly increased the workload of the Department of Safeguards.
Many Safeguards staff who are working on this matter will give up their Christmas and New Year holidays this year. I am grateful to them for their dedication.
The Agency remains committed to working with Iran to restore international confidence in the peaceful nature of its nuclear programme.
We are ready to continue undertaking monitoring and verification in relation to the nuclear-related measures set out in the Joint Plan of Action, as further extended, subject to the availability of funds.
Thank you, Madam Chairperson.