Iran Press/Europe: Speaking at the 62nd IAEA General Conference in Vienna on Monday, Ali Akbar Salehi said: "The international community’s opposition to the US withdrawal, as widely analyzed and discussed and as all of us understand, does not merely reflect their deep anger at America's unilateralism but also their concerns about the extremely difficult situation in our immediate region, and the existing menace of terrorism."
The fate of the JCPOA:
Salehi added: "Let me just start with one of the most important global concerns, that is: the fate of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). I really doubt that the IAEA General Conference needs to be convinced of the historic significance and importance of the hard-won multilateral agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue. It took the concerned parties many years and a long process of tough negotiations to reach an agreement. The two sides, decided to limit their expectations and aspirations and instead, settle for a mutually agreed set of solutions. Ever since that the agreement went into effect in January 2016, Iran, as stipulated in 12 consecutive IAEA reports, has fully complied with the provisions of the deal and implemented all its ensuing nuclear-related commitments. This is a simple, undeniable and generally recognized fact."
"On the other side, everybody is well aware of the U.S. approach and its particular misconduct. Following a period of less-than-faithful compliance with the provisions of the agreement, under the previous administration and subsequently more so under the current administration, the US Government eventually withdrew from the JCPOA in May 2018. The American unilateral decision, is a blatant breach of the UN Security Council Resolution 2231."
Middle East: A nuclear weapons-free-zone
Elsewhere in his remarks, Salehi said: "As to a Nuclear Weapons-Free-Zone in the Middle East, Iran has since 1974 been a strong proponent of its establishment. That said, however, one cannot but lament the deliberate disregard by some, of the actual threat posed by the Zionist regime’s adamant refusal to join NPT, and worse, its possession of a considerable nuclear arsenal as well as its denial of IAEA inspections. While, in the case of Iran, as stated by the Director-General, the most robust verification system in existence anywhere in the world is in my country."
Nuclear Safety:
Nuclear safety has always been a high priority for Iran and, as a result, we attach great importance to strengthening the relevant safety standards. Iran through cooperation with the EU among others is determined to establish an advanced nuclear safety center equipped with modern technologies and has so far achieved tangible progress in this regard.
On the issue of nuclear security, however, we believe that the undertaken measures should neither hamper the international cooperation in the field of peaceful nuclear activities nor should it undermine the established priorities of the Agency’s technical cooperation program. The Islamic Republic of Iran emphasizes that the responsibility of nuclear security rests entirely with Member States and the Agency`s role should be merely aimed at enhancing national infrastructures, upon voluntary request. We deem issues of terrorism and cyber-attacks as well as illicit trafficking as the most significant nuclear security threats.
Representatives of IAEA member states, some at ministerial level, have convened at the 62nd IAEA General Conference in Vienna to discuss key elements of the agency’s priorities in its work on peaceful use of nuclear technology.
Related News: IAEA DG. confirms Iran’s compliance with JCPOA
The IAEA12th periodical report on Thursday once again confirmed Iran's compliance to its nuclear deal with world powers known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Meanwhile, the 62nd IAEA General Conference elected Marta ?iaková of Slovakia as its President.
Marta ?iaková served as Slovakia’s Governor to the IAEA during 2004–2006 and 2013-2015, and was the Chair of the IAEA Board of Governors from 2014 to 2015.
Marta ?iaková
?iaková is currently an observer in the International Nuclear Safety Advisory Group, member of the IAEA Committee on Safety Standards and a member of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Committee on Nuclear Regulatory Activities Bureau.
Since 2015, she has been the Chair of the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) Steering Committee for Nuclear Energy and held the post of Vice-Chair of the NEA Steering Committee Bureau from 2012 to 2015. She has actively participated in many international events conducted under the auspices of the IAEA, NEA and within the European Union/Euratom framework.
Marta ?iaková has been the Chairperson of Slovakia’s Nuclear Regulatory Authority since 2002 and is a member of her country’s Nuclear Society and of the Slovak Society for Science and Technique.
She has an extensive professional background in the nuclear field and held various positions at the VUJE Nuclear Power Plant Research Institute, where she served as Head of the International Training Activities Section, Head of the Theoretical Training Department and was the Project Manager for several safety projects.
?iaková holds a doctorate in Technical Cybernetics from the Bratislava Electrotechnical Faculty of the Slovak Technical University; and an Engineering degree in Technical Cybernetics – Automation Control.
The 62nd IAEA General Conference is set for 17-21 September 2018 at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) in Vienna, Austria, where high-ranking officials and representatives from IAEA member-states will consider a range of issues, IAEA website reported.
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