France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States have jointly expressed their commendation for the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) continued efforts to engage with Iran on issues related to its NPT-required Safeguards Agreement. This was stated during the IAEA Board of Governors Meeting held in Vienna, Austria.
The four countries conveyed their regret over Iran's refusal to provide necessary clarifications regarding nuclear material detected at multiple undeclared locations over the past five years. They emphasized that Iran is legally required to cooperate with the IAEA, yet it has not done so despite numerous opportunities provided by both the Director General and the Board.
The statement highlighted concerns about unresolved activities at sites such as Turquzabad, Varamin, Marivan, and Lavisan-Shian due to insufficient information from Iran. The lack of progress at these sites raises significant concerns about undeclared nuclear materials or activities in Iran.
The statement also noted that Iran continues to refuse providing design information for new nuclear facilities under modified Code 3.1 and has rejected four additional experienced inspectors designated by the IAEA. This refusal is seen as a serious impediment to the Agency's verification activities.
Concerns were further heightened by public statements from senior Iranian officials claiming technical capability to build a nuclear weapon and calls for changes in Iran’s "nuclear doctrine." These developments underscore fears about potential non-compliance with safeguards obligations.
The countries reiterated their support for the IAEA's work and urged Iran to resume full cooperation immediately. They recalled resolutions adopted in 2024 urging cooperation from Iran which were ignored. The importance of supporting the IAEA in pursuing clarity on Iran’s nuclear program was emphasized.
In November 2024, a resolution mandated a comprehensive assessment of undeclared nuclear material presence or use in connection with unresolved issues. The statement called for this assessment to be delivered promptly based on all available information.
Finally, they stressed that without credible progress reported by the Director General, they would consider finding Iran non-compliant with its safeguards agreement—a step taken seriously given its implications for international security and non-proliferation integrity.