Sweden worries about less IAEA nuclear monitoring of Iran
Sweden has expressed concern that the UN’s watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is reducing monitoring of Iran’s nuclear activities.
In a Monday statement at the 10th UN Conference to Review the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in New York, Sweden said: “The situation with regard to the Iran safeguards agreement remains a matter of great concern. Iran is conducting highly proliferation-sensitive activities without credible civilian use, and IAEA verification is limited since Iran stopped implementing the Additional Protocol last year.”
Referring to the latest report by the IAEA Director General, the statement said there are indications that nuclear material and related equipment have been sent to unknown locations and that the agency can no longer verify the accuracy and completeness of Iran’s nuclear material reporting unless Iran seriously engages to assist the Agency in determining the fate of such materials and equipment.
Calls on Iran to provide the IAEA with all the information it needs and to implement the resolution adopted by the IAEA Board in June, it added that full and effective implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is urgent to strengthen the NPT and international peace and security.
“Sweden is deeply concerned about Iran’s continued violation of the JCPOA and the proliferation consequences they bring,” the country says, calling for an immediate re-application of the Additional Protocol as well as the voluntary verification measures foreseen in the JCPOA and praising the IAEA’s crucial verification work in Iran.