I have the honor to make this statement on behalf of China, France, Germany, the Russian Federation, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
We welcome the Director General's introductory statement and his February 24 report (GOV/2012/9) entitled "Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement and relevant provisions of the United Nations Security Council resolutions in the Islamic Republic of Iran".
We reaffirm our support for the resolution of the IAEA Board of Governors GOV/2011/69 adopted on 18 November 2011, which stressed that it is essential for Iran and the Agency to intensify their dialogue aiming at the urgent resolution of all outstanding substantive issues for the purpose of providing clarifications regarding those issues, including access to all relevant information, documentation, sites, material, and personnel in Iran and also called on Iran to engage seriously and without preconditions in talks aimed at restoring international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program and recalling the relevant UNSC Resolutions.
We note that the Agency team held two rounds of talks in Tehran in January and February 2012 and during these rounds an intensive discussion was held on a structured approach to the clarification of all outstanding issues. We are concerned that, despite efforts made so far, no agreement was reached, including on the access to relevant sites in Iran, requested by the Agency. In that context we urge Iran to fulfill its undertaking to grant access to Parchin.
We stress the need and urgency to reach agreement on a structured approach, based on the Agency verification practices, to resolve all outstanding issues, particularly those relating to possible military dimensions, as stated in the DG's report (GOV/2011/65) in November 2011, in accordance with resolution GOV/2011/69.
We commend the Secretariat for its intensive efforts to clarify unresolved issues in connection with Iran's nuclear programme and encourage it to continue to do so. We reaffirm that the IAEA must play an essential role in establishing international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear program.
We took note with regret of what the DG's report has told us about recent developments in uranium enrichment activities at the Fordow and Natanz facilities.
We urge once again Iran to comply fully without delay with all of its obligations under the relevant UNSC Resolutions, and to meet the requirements of the Board of Governors, including the application of the modified Code 3.1 and the implementation and prompt entry into force of the Additional Protocol.
We reaffirm that our overall goal remains a comprehensive negotiated, long-term solution, on the basis of reciprocity and a step-by-step approach, which restores international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme consistent with the NPT, as expressed by EU High Representative Ashton on behalf of China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
We also reaffirm our continuing support for a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear issue and readiness to restart dialogue with Iran. In this context we note that on 6 March, the EU High Representative, on behalf of E3+3, replied to Iranian chief negotiator Jalili, offering to resume talks on the nuclear issue on the understanding that these talks will address the international community's long-standing concerns and that there will be serious discussions on concrete confidence building measures. We call on Iran to enter, without pre-conditions, into a sustained process of serious dialogue, which will produce concrete results.
In order to move forward the implementation of the IAEA Board of Governors resolution GOV/2011/69, we expect the Director General to report to June 2012 meeting of the Board of Governors on the implementation of the said resolution.
