Chair,
China takes note of the report by DG Grossi on “NPT Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran”. We welcome Iran’s cooperation with the Agency on outstanding safeguards issues and highly commend the active interactions and positive outcomes during DG’s visit to Iran last week. We look forward to the further strengthening of exchanges and cooperation between Iran and the IAEA Secretariat so as to resolve the outstanding safeguards issues at an early date.
The outstanding safeguards issues of Iran have a complicated historical background and should be resolved through enhanced dialogue and cooperation between the IAEA Secretariat and Iran. Facts have proved time and again that creating artificial confrontation, intensifying conflicts in the Board will not solve the problem, but will risk deteriorating cooperation between the Agency and Iran and further complicating the issue. DG had a successful visit to Iran last week. However, certain countries are bent on advancing the draft resolution in disregard of the hard-earned positive momentum. Provoking confrontation for political motives in such a special and sensitive context is clearly a bad choice at the worst timing. It is not constructive for the political settlement of the Iran nuclear issue and will only lead to new conflicts.
China would like to emphasize once again that pressure and power politics are not diplomacy, confrontation will not solve the Iran nuclear issue. The fundamental solution to properly addressing non-proliferation hotspot issues lies in political and diplomatic efforts as well as constructive cooperation on multilateral platforms. The current priority for the Board is to maintain the positive momentum of dialogue between Iran and the Agency, and to support constructive cooperation between the two sides, so as to bring the Iran nuclear issue back onto the right track. Several years ago, due to a reason known to all, the authority, effectiveness and smooth implementation of the JCPOA were seriously undermined.We urge all relevant parties to take a serious look at the current situation of the Iran nuclear issue in a careful and responsible manner, and to take concrete actions to safeguard the NPT regime and the IAEA safeguards system, play a constructive role in the political resolution of the Iran nuclear issue, and make real efforts for true diplomacy. Concurrently, we call upon the Board of Governors and Member States to play a constructive role and resist any attempt to politicize the safeguards issues.
Based on the above considerations, the Chinese delegation will vote against the draft resolution tabled by E3 and the US.
Thank you, Mr. Chair.