Iran Provides UN More Access to Nuclear Sites

November 12, 2013

            On November 11, Iran agreed to provide the U.N. nuclear watchdog with greater access to its nuclear sites. The joint statement signed in Tehran was intended to help verify the peaceful nature of Iran’s controversial nuclear program. International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano said the agreement was “an important step forward to start with, but much more needs to be done.” Previous talks had failed to produce a framework for cooperation.
            Iran committed to providing “managed access” within three months to its uranium mine at Gchine and a heavy water production plant. But the agreement did not specifically reference the Parchin military facility, where U.N. officials suspect Iran may have carried out weapons-related research. The following is the full text of the joint statement and a picture of Iranian nuclear chief Ali Akbar Salehi with Yukiya Amano.

 
Joint Statement on a Framework for Cooperation
            The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Islamic Republic of Iran (Iran) have agreed today, 11 November 2013, to strengthen their cooperation and dialogue aimed at ensuring the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme through the resolution of all outstanding issues that have not already been resolved by the IAEA.
            In this regard, it was agreed that Iran and the IAEA will cooperate further with respect to verification activities to be undertaken by the IAEA to resolve all present and past issues. It is foreseen that Iran's cooperation will include providing the IAEA with timely information about its nuclear facilities and in regard to the implementation of transparency measures. Activities will proceed in a step-by-step manner.
            The IAEA agreed to continue to take into account Iran's security concerns including through the use of managed access and the protection of confidential information.
As a first step, Iran and the IAEA agreed to the practical measures listed in the attached Annex. Iran will provide the access and information within three months from the date of this Statement. The IAEA will report to the Board of Governors on progress in the implementation of these measures.
 
For the INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY:
(signed)
Yukiya Amano
Director General
Place: Tehran
Date: 11 November 2013
 
For the ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN:
(signed)
Ali Akbar Salehi
Vice-President of the Islamic Republic of Iran
President of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran
Place: Tehran
Date: 11 November 2013
 
Annex to the Joint Statement on a Framework for Cooperation of 11 November 2013
Initial Practical Measures to be Taken by Iran Within Three Months
  1. Providing mutually agreed relevant information and managed access to the Gchine mine in Bandar Abbas
  2. Providing mutually agreed relevant information and managed access to the Heavy Water Production Plant
  3. Providing information on all new research reactors
  4. Providing information with regard to the identification of 16 sites designated for the construction of nuclear power plants
  5. Clarification of the announcement made by Iran regarding additional enrichment facilities
  6. Further clarification of the announcement made by Iran with respect to laser enrichment technology