IAEA / IRAN REPORT WRAP

IAEA Chief Yukiya Amano today there is credible information that Iran is developing a nuclear weapon and called on the country to agree to a visit by a high-level team to clarify the nature of its nuclear programme. IAEA

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:37
• Production Date: 17 November 2011
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY - IAEA
• Subject Topical: POLITICAL AFFAIRS; LAW; INTERNATIONAL LAW; POLITICAL CONDITIONS; INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; NUCLEAR SCIENCE
• Geographic Subject: IRAN
• MAMS Id: U111117a

Description

STORY: IAEA / IRAN REPORT WRAP
TRT: 2.37
SOURCE: IAEA
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 17 NOVEMBER 2011, VIENNA, AUSTRIA

Shotlist

1.Wide shot, meeting
2.Med shot, delegates
3.SOUNDBITE (English) Yukiya Amano, IAEA Director General:
“The information indicates that Iran has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device. It also indicates that, prior to the end of 2003, these activities took place under a structured programme, and that some activities may still be ongoing.”
4.Close up, Iranian delegate
5.SOUNDBITE (English) Yukiya Amano, IAEA Director General:
“As Iran is not providing the necessary cooperation, including by not implementing its Additional Protocol, the Agency is unable to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran, and therefore to conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities.”
6.Med shot, delegates
7.SOUNDBITE (English) Yukiya Amano, IAEA Director General:
“I reported the Agency’s conclusion that a building destroyed at the Dair Alzour site was very likely a nuclear reactor and should have been declared by Syria. A delegation from the Agency’s Department of Safeguards visited Damascus in October with the aim of advancing the Agency’s verification mission in Syria. Unfortunately, no progress was made in meetings with the Syrian authorities on obtaining the full access which we have requested to other locations which the Agency believes are functionally related to the Dair Alzour site.”
8.Med Shot, Amano in front of photographers
9.Wide shot, press conference
10.SOUNDBITE (English) Yukiya Amano, IAEA Director General:
“Information is overall credible and it indicates the activities, Iranian activities relevant to the development of nuclear explosive devices. As the head of this organization, what else can I do? Can I sit on this information? I think, that’s why I said it is my duty to alert the world.”
11.Wide shot, end of meeting

Storyline

The head of the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said today (17 November) there is credible information that Iran is developing a nuclear weapon and called on the country to agree to a visit by a high-level team to clarify the nature of its nuclear programme.

Director General Yukiya Amano told the meeting in Vienna of the IAEA Board of Governors that “the information indicates that Iran has carried out activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device” and “it also indicates that, prior to the end of 2003, these activities took place under a structured programme, and that some activities may still be ongoing.”

Iran has repeatedly stated that its nuclear programme is for the peaceful purpose of providing energy, but many countries contend it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Last year the Security Council imposed a fourth round of sanctions against Iran, citing the proliferation risks of its nuclear programme and its continued failure to cooperate with the IAEA.

Amano stated that “Iran is not providing the necessary cooperation, including by not implementing its Additional Protocol” and added that the IAEA is “unable to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran, and therefore to conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities.”

The Director General’s concerns regarding possible military dimensions to Iran’s nuclear programme are contained in his recent report to the Board, which also details the issues which Iran needs to address to restore international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its programme.

On Syria, Amano confirmed that “a building destroyed at the Dair Alzour site was very likely a nuclear reactor and should have been declared by Syria”. He told Member States that an IAEA delegation visited Damascus in October “with the aim of advancing the Agency’s verification mission in Syria” but “unfortunately” no progress was made in obtaining full access to other locations “which the Agency believes are functionally related to the Dair Alzour site.”

Following the meeting, Amano briefed the media and said that information on Iran was “overall credible”, asking reporters, “as the head of this organization, what else can I do? Can I sit on this information?" He added that it was his “duty to alert the world.”

Meanwhile, the IAEA received information from the Hungarian Atomic Energy Authority (HAEA) that the source of the iodine-131 (I-131) detected in Europe last week was most probably a release to the atmosphere from the Institute of Isotopes Ltd., Budapest. The Institute of Isotopes Ltd. produces radioisotopes for healthcare, research and industrial applications. According to the HAEA, the release occurred from September 8 to November 16, 2011. The cause of the release is under investigation.