Resolution Adopted on Iran and PMD's

The International Atomic Energy Agency has completed its investigation into the past possible military dimensions, or PMD, of Iran’s nuclear program.

Resolution Adopted on Iran and PMD's

The IAEA Board of Governors adopted a resolution December 15 addressing the issue, which was the subject of the IAEA Director General’s December 2 report. The report was the culmination of a lengthy probe seeking clarification of long-held concerns over past nuclear activities by Iran.

The report concluded that Iran had had a nuclear weapons program prior to the end of 2003 and had engaged in “a range of activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device.” The report assessed that the activities “did not advance beyond feasibility and scientific studies and the acquisition of certain relevant technical competences and capabilities,” and that “there were no credible indications” that such activities continued after 2009.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry welcomed the adoption of the resolution by the IAEA Board of Governors. He said in a statement that the resolution “allows the Board to turn its focus now to the full implementation and verifications of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action” – the nuclear deal agreed to in July by Iran, the EU and the P5+1 nations. That deal, said Secretary Kerry “prohibits the resumption of such nuclear weapons-related activities and provides comprehensive tools for deterring and detecting any renewed nuclear weapons work.”

Mr. Kerry pointed out that the Director General’s report “is consistent with what the United States had long assessed concerning Iran’s nuclear program, as well as the IAEA’s own assessment reflected in the Director General’s November 2011 report – that Iran pursued a coordinated program of nuclear weapons-related activities until 2003 and engaged in certain activities relevant to nuclear weaponization for at least several years beyond that period.”

The resolution adopted by the IAEA Board of Governors closes the PMD agenda item for Iran. But Secretary Kerry emphasized that that “in no way preclude[s] the IAEA from investigating if there is reason to believe Iran is pursuing any covert nuclear activities in the future…[The] resolution makes clear that the IAEA’s Board of Governors will be watching closely to verify that Iran fully implements its commitments under the JCPOA,” said Secretary Kerry. “We will remain intensely focused going forward on the full implementation of the JCPOA in order to ensure the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program.”