Statements made by the Ministry of Foreign and European Spokesperson (Paris, June 15, 2010)

Iran/ Nuclear issue

What is your reaction following Iran’s announcement regarding the construction of a new nuclear research reactor that is even more powerful than the Tehran Research Reactor?

I don’t know which reactor the head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Agency is referring to exactly.

The continuation of enrichment activities in Natanz, construction of the heavy water reactor in Arak, concealment of the Qom site and continued lack of response to the IAEA inspectors’ questions – these are at the heart of the Iranian nuclear issue.

We are increasingly concerned about the Iranian nuclear program. Despite 5 UN Security Council resolutions and 10 resolutions from the IAEA Board of Governors, Iran is continuing to pursue its uranium enrichment activities and its heavy water-related activities, without any identifiable civilian purpose, at the same time as continuing to regularly conduct ballistic missile tests.

There is no denying that the situation has been deteriorating for several months, as demonstrated by successive IAEA  reports, in particular the most recent report issued in February under the auspices of the new director general.

The Security Council adopted resolution 1929 in order to put pressure on Iran to put an end to these continuous violations of its international obligations.

I want to reiterate that with regard to the Iranian nuclear program, the 3 (the United States, Russia and France) issued an offer of dialogue, and Mrs. Ashton also issued a proposal for discussions on the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR).

As we have already said, the door to dialogue remains open and we hope that Iran will finally choose to cooperate.