Madam chair,

In June this year, Israel and the United States launched attacks on nuclear facilities of Iran that are under the safeguards of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). China strongly condemns these actions. Any armed attack on and threat against nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes constitutes a violation of the principles of the United Nations Charter, international law and the Statute of the Agency. This is a fundamental consensus jointly affirmed by resolutions of the UN General Assembly, the UN Security Council, and the IAEA General Conference, and it is undeniable.

The United States, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, a Depository State and a nuclear-weapon State Party of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), launched a military strike against nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards in Iran, a non-nuclear-weapon State of the NPT. This is an egregious and unprecedented act. The US must bear historical responsibility.

China takes note of Director General’s report on NPT Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran, and welcomes the positive progress made in consultations between the two sides on resuming IAEA inspection activities in Iran. The return of IAEA inspectors to carry out safeguards at Iran’s Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant marks a good beginning. Despite the fact that its safeguarded nuclear facilities attacked, Iran has persisted in maintaining communication with the IAEA through diplomatic channels to restore cooperation, which is commendable. It must be emphasized that Iran is the victim of these attacks, and those responsible for the current situation must create conditions for resuming dialogue and restoring cooperation. At the very least, there must be a commitment not to launch further illegal attacks against Iran’s nuclear facilities and to address Iran’s legitimate and reasonable security concerns.

China welcomes the positive outcomes achieved by DG Grossi and Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi at their meeting in Cairo yesterday and looks forward to the two sides implementing relevant practical arrangements as soon as possible and resuming cooperation on IAEA safeguards in Iran.

I would like to emphasize that Iranian nuclear issue can only be properly resolved through political and diplomatic efforts and safeguards cooperation within the framework of the IAEA on the premise of fully respecting Iran's legitimate right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy as a State Party to the NPT. The lessons learned over the past 20 years have taught us that negotiation and cooperation are the correct ways to resolve Iranian nuclear issue and that confrontation, pressure and undermining of international agreements will only further complicate the issue. 

The current situation is complex and sensitive, with the diplomatic process at an impasse. The coming months represent an important time window for diplomatic efforts. IAEA Member States should support and promote continued communication and engagement between the DG, the Secretariat and Iran, and jointly oppose attempts to create confrontation, undermine the diplomatic process, and disrupt dialogue and cooperation within the IAEA framework.

Thank you, Madam Chair.