DYB2011-Part-II-web

United Nations Disarmament Yearbook 2011: Part II
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been shared with China and the United States and that consideration of the
proposal would be continued at the expert level.
Although the Russian proposal received a mixed reaction from Iranian
officials, according to press reports, on 21 July, Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad “cautiously welcomed” the proposal. Following two rounds
of talks with Russian officials in Tehran, on 19 August, the Secretary of the
Supreme National Security Council reportedly stated that the proposal “can
be a basis to start negotiations for regional and international cooperation,
specifically in the field of peaceful nuclear activities”.
In September, the IAEA Director General issued an updated report31 on
the implementation of safeguards and relevant Security Council resolutions in
the Islamic Republic of Iran. The report notably expressed that the Agency was
“increasingly concerned about the possible existence in Iran of past or current
undisclosed nuclear related activities involving military related organizations,
including activities related to the development of a nuclear payload for a
missile, about which the Agency continues to receive new information”. The
report indicated that the source of the information that underlined its concern
had been acquired both from “many Member States” and through the Agency’s
own efforts and that it was extensive and comprehensive.
Efforts to advance political negotiations continued through October, as
the E3+3 appeared to consolidate its position around the establishment of a
phased step-by-step process leading to the resolution of the nuclear issue. In
a letter sent on 6 September, the Secretary of the Supreme National Security
Council reportedly informed the EU High Representative that the Islamic
Republic of Iran was ready to engage in new negotiations if its inalienable
right to nuclear energy for peaceful purposes would be respected.
On 21 September, the E3+3 countries issued a joint statement32 in which
they reaffirmed that “their overall goal remains a comprehensive negotiated,
long-term solution, on the basis of reciprocity and a step-by-step approach,
which restores international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of
Iran’s nuclear program consistent with the NPT”.
The EU High Representative sent a letter of response to the Secretary of
the Supreme National Security Council on 21 October. Her letter welcomed
the suggestion to resume talks and expressed support for a “continuous and
long-term process of building confidence and developing cooperation” to
overcome the deficit in confidence. She reaffirmed the overall goal of the
E3+3 joint statement of 21 September. According to the letter, the confidence-
31 IAEA, document GOV/2011/54. Available from http://www.iaea.org/Publications/
Documents/Board/2011/gov2011-54.pdf (accessed 9 May 2012).
32 Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative (on behalf of the E3/EU+3), Brussels,
21 September 2011. Available from http://www.consilium.europa.eu/uedocs/cms_Data/
docs/pressdata/EN/foraff/124694.pdf (accessed 18 May 2012).