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Iran-EU dispute unresolved on parts of draft resolution to IAEA

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Vienna, Nov 26, IRNA -- A senior diplomat said here on Thursday that 
Iran-EU differences of opinion over parts the union`s amended draft 
resolution about Iran`s nuclear energy program still remain 
unresolved. 
The diplomat, speaking on conditions of anonymity, said the 
amendments to EU`s draft resolution accommodate four of Iran`s main 
objections to the previous version. The diplomat added that an 
objection had been almost resolved, but one still remains disputed. 
The diplomat said Iran and the EU have arrived at no agreement on 
Clause 3 of the draft resolution -- Clause 2 in the new version -- 
which calls for reporting Iran`s breaches of pledges to suspend 
uranium enrichment activities. 
The verified clause urges the director general of the 
International Energy Agency (IAEA) to "report without delay to the 
[IAEA] board [of governors] should the agency find that the suspension
is not fully sustained, or should the agency be prevented from 
verifying all elements of the suspension, for as long as the 
suspension is in force". 
The diplomat further said another Iran-EU dispute over the amended
resolution concerns the ambiguity over issue of third-party countries 
in contamination cases. 
The diplomat recalled arguments that third-party countries may not
cooperate in those cases and that the issue might remain unresolved 
for years. 
Clause 8 of the previous draft resolution, which is Clause 6 in 
the revised version, has been completely amended to meet Iran`s 
requests. 
The amended clause requests Iran to allow access deemed necessary 
by the agency to all locations in line with the Additional Protocol. 
The diplomat further stressed that a major part of the problems 
with Clause 7 of the previous draft resolution has been removed. 
Clause 7 -- which is Clause 5 in the amended version of the 
resolution -- emphasized the director general`s "providing credible 
assurances," adding, however, that this left it open to the director 
general not to provide assurances for an unknown period of time. 
The diplomat said Clause 5 of has been changed on that it welcomes
investigations into all issues, "in particular the origin of 
contamination and the extent of Iran`s centrifuge program, as well as 
the full implementation of Iran`s Safeguards Agreement and Additional 
Protocol, with a view to drawing conclusion regarding the absence of 
undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran". 
The problems with Clause 2 -- now Clause 1 -- have been almost 
completely removed. Iran was against this clause in that it called for
sustaining uranium enrichment activities. 
The diplomat said the phrase "sustain this suspension" of the 
clause has been amended by 70 percent, and that the term "sustained" 
has been completely removed from the clause. 
The EU has amended Clause 1 of the resolution by adding that "the 
board considers the full and sustained implementation of this 
confidence building measure essential to addressing outstanding 
issues". 
The diplomat elsewhere in his remarks stressed that the revised 
edition of EU`s draft resolution refers to the recent Paris Agreement 
with Iran, and stresses that Iran`s nuclear case should be removed 
from the agenda of the IAEA Board of Governors. 
The draft resolution has also described Iran`s decision to suspend
uranium enrichment activities as merely a voluntarily measure meant 
for building confidence. 
2330/1423