EU Statement on Agenda item 5d: Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement and relevant provisions of the United Nations Security Council resolutions in the Islamic Republic of Iran (GOV/2026/8)
Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union. The following countries align themselves with this statement: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, Republic of Moldova, San Marino and Ukraine.
The European Union follows developments in Iran and the Middle East with utmost concern. The Middle East stands to lose greatly from any drawn-out war. Iran’s attacks and violation of sovereignty of a number of countries in the region are inexcusable. Iran must refrain from indiscriminate military strikes. We express our solidarity with partners in the region that have been attacked or affected. The EU remains strongly committed to peace, security and stability in the Middle East, and remains in close contact with our partners in the region. We call for maximum restraint, protection of civilians and full respect for international law, including the principles of the United Nations Charter, and international humanitarian law.
The EU has always supported diplomatic efforts as the only way conducive to a durable solution to Iran’s non-proliferation crisis, which remains a key threat to European, as well as regional and international security.
We have always been clear that Iran must never be allowed to develop or acquire a nuclear weapon and that it must comply with its legally binding obligations under the NPT. We have repeatedly urged Iran to seriously address the long-lasting concerns of the international community regarding the nature of its nuclear programme. We call for a resumption of negotiations and urge all sides to seek a negotiated solution. The European Union, including through the efforts of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, will continue to contribute to all diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions and to bring about a lasting negotiated solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. Full cooperation by Iran with the IAEA as well as adherence to Iran’s legal obligations under the NPT and its Safeguards Agreement are crucial. Ensuring nuclear safety, security and physical protection, and preventing any actions that could further escalate tensions or undermine the global non-proliferation regime is of critical importance. We reiterate our full support for the Agency’s professional, independent and impartial work and are grateful that the Agency continues to monitor the situation.
The European Union thanks the Director General for his reports and DDG Aparo for the technical briefing. We commend the DG and the Secretariat for their professional, independent and impartial work.
The reinstatement of six UNSC resolutions, sanctions and nuclear restrictions as a result of snapback, and as approved by the UNSC last September, require Iran, inter alia, to suspend all its activities related to uranium enrichment, and to discontinue the construction of related facilities. We deplore that Iran has not complied with these obligations as noted in the DG’s report, and call all UN member States to fully implement the restrictive measures under the reinstated UNSC resolutions.
Despite all diplomatic efforts, Iran’s continuously escalating nuclear trajectory over the last six years constitutes an urgent and profound nuclear proliferation crisis in the region. As of June 2025, Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched up to 60% had further increased to more than 440 kg, and the Agency is unable to exclude further enrichment activities since that date. Iran is the only NPT non-nuclear-weapon State to have produced such a quantity of highly enriched uranium (HEU), for which there is no credible civilian justification. Moreover, the Agency has been unable to verify this material for nine months. As stressed in the DG’s report, this is a matter of compliance with the NPT Safeguards Agreement. Iran must urgently address this to allay concerns regarding the possible diversion of declared nuclear material from peaceful uses.
Chair,
The EU is gravely concerned by Iran’s serious curtailing of its cooperation with the IAEA. The Director General has reported that the IAEA has lost continuity of knowledge in relation to the previously declared inventories of nuclear material in Iran, including low and highly enriched uranium. As clearly indicated by the DG, Iran’s implementation of its Safeguards Agreement cannot be suspended under any circumstances. We note that Iran, after numerous delays and initially refusing access, has granted the Agency access to some facilities. However, it is critical and urgent that Iran takes measures to restore confidence and transparency, and provides the IAEA with updated verifiable declarations about the quantity and whereabouts of nuclear material and related activities and allows inspections to resume in all its nuclear facilities, as required by its NPT Safeguards Agreement and relevant UNSC Resolutions. As clearly indicated by the Agency, there is no technical reason preventing IAEA inspectors returning to all nuclear facilities.
We further call upon Iran to fully implement the legally binding modified Code 3.1, to reapply the Additional Protocol and to ratify it, and to take urgent steps to remedy its non-compliance. This is indispensable to address in a credible and transparent manner our serious doubts about the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear programme.
The EU reiterates its full support to the IAEA and the Director General in their critical work to uphold the implementation of safeguards, nuclear safety and security and to pursue clarity on Iran’s nuclear programme. We urge Iran to facilitate the full and effective implementation of safeguards activities in Iran and to engage with the Agency in addressing, without any further delay, the unresolved safeguards issues in accordance with its NPT Safeguards Agreement.
We look forward to continued regular reporting from the Director General. With this, the EU takes note of the report under this agenda item and requests that it be made public.
Thank you, Chair.