South Africa commends Iran-IAEA agreement on modality plan

VIENNA (IRNA) -- South Africa has commended Iran for its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in resolving some of the outstanding issues regarding its nuclear program.

South Africa's Ambassador to the IAEA Abdul Minty, addressed South African reporters in Vienna, during a debate of IAEA Board of Governors on Iran's nuclear program.

South Africa has welcomed the recent understanding reached between Iran and the IAEA on the modalities for the resolution of the outstanding issues, said Minty.

Ambassador Minty said progress had been made to resolve particularly the issue of the plutonium separation experiments and the design information verification undertaken at the IR-40 reactor.

He, however, explained that after many years of verification activities by the agency, there remained outstanding issues on Iran's nuclear program, adding that the agency was also not in a position to conclude that there were no undeclared nuclear materials or activities in Iran.

The Board of Governors, and later the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), outlined certain corrective measures to be taken by Iran to address those outstanding questions and allow the agency to express itself on the correctness and completeness of Iran's declarations required in terms of its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, said Minty.

""It is clear that the process to resolve these outstanding issues is not open ended, and should be completed as soon as possible.

Minty emphasized that it was important, as requested by the board, that Iran implement transparency measures which extend beyond the formal requirements of the Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol.

""We believe that we are on the right path. Iran is providing information to the agency, which has already enabled the agency to resolve some of the outstanding issues.

Importantly, he said the agency must be able to provide assurances regarding the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran.

He explained that through the full implementation of the agreed work plan between the agency and Iran, the necessary confidence would be created to continue negotiations between Iran and all concerned parties.

""This would avoid a confrontation, which no one desires and which would have catastrophic consequences for all.

""South Africa also fully supports the statement of the Director General in which he called for a 'double time-out' of all enrichment related activities and of sanctions, thereby providing a window of opportunity for the resumption of these negotiations,"" he said.

Minty added that Iran had the opportunity to demonstrate and reassure the international community that all aspects of its past, present and future nuclear program were entirely peaceful.

""South Africa encourages all parties to refrain from any actions that would hinder the implementation of the understanding reached between the agency and Iran,"" he said.

Earlier in the week Minty expressed appreciation to the IAEA and other governments and for their assistance in securing a recent conviction in a case involving a global nuclear technology smuggling ring

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