Statement by H.E. Reza Najafi before the Board of Governors of the IAEA under Agenda Items 4 and 5: Nuclear Safety and Nuclear Security

Statement by H.E. Reza Najafi Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran before the Board of Governors of the IAEA under Agenda Items 4 and 5: “Nuclear Safety and Nuclear Security” (Vienna 8 September 2025)

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Madam Chair

My delegation aligns itself with the statements delivered by the distinguished representative of Kenya on behalf of the Group of 77 and China and would like to make the following remarks in its national capacity.

It is not possible to address the issue of nuclear safety and security without reference to the acts of aggression committed by the United States and the Israeli regime against Iran’s safeguarded nuclear sites and facilities. These unlawful actions, unprecedented in the history of the Agency, which constitute clear acts of State terrorism and serious threat to international peace and security, have gravely undermined nuclear safety and security and jeopardized the integrity of the non-proliferation regime. It is therefore necessary that these negative developments be duly reflected in the relevant reports of the Director General.

Any attack, or threat of attack, constitutes a blatant violation of international law, the Charter of the United Nations, and the Statute of the IAEA. Such actions against nuclear sites and facilities pose catastrophic risks to human life, and the environment.

Over the past several years, the Iranian delegation, together with a number of other delegations, has consistently endeavoured to incorporate appropriate language on reaffirming the prohibition of attacks or threats of attacks against safeguarded nuclear facilities into various Agency documents.

Regrettably, consensus on this matter was repeatedly obstructed by the opposition of certain parties. However, the acts of aggression perpetrated by the United States and the Israeli regime in June 2025 against Iran’s safeguarded nuclear facilities have now made evident to all the underlying reasons for that opposition.

The same obstructive approach persists in the negotiations on the Nuclear Security Plan and has prevented the inclusion of a provision on this critical matter, despite support from multiple delegations. NSP which is intended to outline the five-year program for nuclear security, cannot disregard an issue of such fundamental significance. Failure to acknowledge this recent unprecedented development would fundamentally undermine the credibility and relevance of the Nuclear Security Plan.

As stated by the Director General: nuclear facilities must never be attacked regardless of the context or circumstances. Double standards in addressing these unlawful actions seriously undermine the credibility of the non-proliferation regime and the integrity of the Agency. It is therefore imperative that all Member States condemn such unlawful actions unequivocally and refrain from politicizing the work of the Agency in this regard. The Board of Governors must remain vigilant in safeguarding the Agency’s impartiality and ensuring that its technical mandate is fully preserved.

Distinguished Colleagues

Nuclear security objectives would not be fully realized without total elimination of nuclear weapons as required under Article VI of the NPT. It should be emphasized that nuclear security would be realized if it is coupled with concrete steps towards a world free from nuclear weapons. Hence, Nuclear disarmament continues to remain the highest priority. It is a matter of grave concern that the Nuclear-weapon States not only fail to comply with their disarmament obligations, but also engage in nuclear-sharing arrangements and test new delivery systems. We underscore the importance of achieving the complete, irreversible and verifiable elimination of nuclear arsenals and its positive impact on nuclear security.

While reiterating that the responsibility for nuclear security within a State rests entirely with that State, we acknowledge the importance of the IAEA’s role in facilitating international cooperation in support of Member States’ fulfilment of their national responsibility for nuclear security, including by capacity building through technical assistance, transfer of technology and equipment to Member States, upon their request.

Although the safety and security measures may have some common aims in protecting human life and health, and the environment, there is a clear distinction between their natures. Nuclear security has direct relevance with national security and political orientation, where nuclear safety has a purely technical nature. Therefore, due to distinctive natures of these two concepts, clear distinctions should be made while developing international measures and preparing guidelines on nuclear safety and security.

It should be emphasized that measures and initiatives aimed at strengthening nuclear safety and nuclear security must never be misused as a pretext or leverage to violate, deny or restrict the inalienable right of Member States to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination.

Furthermore, confidentiality constitutes an essential element directly linked to nuclear security. In accordance with its Statute, the Agency bears the responsibility to ensure the protection of confidential information relating to the implementation of Safeguards Agreements in Member States. Failure to observe confidentiality has resulted in the leakage of sensitive information, subsequently exploited by terrorist groups and intelligence services of some rogue countries to sabotage nuclear facilities. In this context, the Agency has a critical statutory obligation to take all necessary measures and to establish appropriate arrangements to rectify this situation and to prevent its recurrence.

With this reservations, my delegation takes note of the Nuclear Security Report, as contained in document GOV/2025/41–GC(69)/8.

I Thank you Madam Chair