U.S. On IAEA Iran Report

The UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1929 on June 9th by a vote of 12-2-1. U.S. Ambassador to the UN,
Susan Rice, noted, "We are at this point because the Government of Iran has chosen clearly and willfully to violate its commitments to the IAEA [the International Atomic Energy Agency] and the resolutions of the [Security] Council." She further noted that "Iran must fulfill its international obligations, suspend its enrichment-related, reprocessing, and heavy-water-related activities, and cooperate fully with the IAEA."

Moreover, the IAEA's Director General's latest report on Iran's nuclear program "clearly shows Iran's continued failure to comply with its international obligations and its sustained lack of cooperation with the IAEA," said U.S. National Security Council spokesman Mike Hammer in a recent statement.

Mr. Hammer said that the report, which was discussed at the IAEA's Board of Governors meeting on June 7th, "outlines Iran's sustained enrichment to both 3.5% and near 20% levels, continued construction of a heavy water research reactor, and refusal to permit the IAEA the access necessary to answer the ongoing questions regarding [the uranium enrichment facility at] Qom [kome] and long outstanding questions that surround a possible military dimension to its nuclear program."

For years, Iran has failed to comply with repeated resolutions by the IAEA and the Security Council mandating that it stop its uranium enrichment-and heavy water-related activities, answer all questions related to its nuclear program, and fully cooperate with the IAEA. The latest IAEA report states that due to Iran's lack of cooperation, the IAEA cannot confirm the peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear activities.

State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley, called the IAEA report "strong," and noted that Iran has recently repeated that it will continue to enrich uranium. "Which means that Iran is stating that it is prepared to continue to function outside its international obligations, its responsibilities to the IAEA, and its responsibilities under multiple UN resolutions."

Mr. Crowley reiterated that the United States believes the best way to convince Iran to change course is through additional pressure – via sanctions imposed through the UN Security Council. "We expect all responsible members of the international community," said Mr. Crowley, "especially those entrusted to serve on the U.N. Security Council and deal with these matters, to support the resolution."