UNITED NATIONS, March 30: Here is the text of the statement on Iran’s nuclear programmeme agreed by the UN Security Council on Wednesday: “The Security Council reaffirms its commitment to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and recalls the right of States Party, in conformity with articles I and II of that treaty, to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination.

“The Security Council notes with serious concern the many IAEA reports and resolutions related to Iran’s nuclear programmeme, reported to it by the IAEA director general, including the February IAEA board resolution (Gov/2006/14).

“The Security Council also notes with serious concern that the director general’s report of 27 February 2006 (Gov/2006/15) lists a number of outstanding issues and concerns, including topics which could have a military nuclear dimension, and that the IAEA is unable to conclude that there are no undeclared nuclear materials or activities in Iran.

“The Security Council notes with serious concern Iran’s decision to resume enrichment-related activities, including research and development, and to suspend cooperation with the IAEA under the Additional Protocol.

“The Security Council calls upon Iran to take the steps required by the IAEA board of governors, notably in the first operative paragraph of its resolution (Gov/2006/14), which are essential to build confidence in the exclusively peaceful purpose of its nuclear programmeme and to resolve outstanding questions, and underlines, in this regard, the particular importance of re-establishing full and sustained suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, to be verified by the IAEA.

“The Security Council expresses the conviction that such suspension and full, verified Iranian compliance with the requirements set out by the IAEA board of governors would contribute to a diplomatic, negotiated solution that guarantees that Iran’s nuclear programmeme is for exclusively peaceful purposes, and underlines the willingness of the international community to work positively for such a solution, which will also benefit nuclear non-proliferation elsewhere.

“The Security Council strongly supports the role of the IAEA board of governors and commends and encourages the director general and its secretariat for their ongoing professional and impartial efforts to resolve outstanding issues in Iran, and underlines the necessity of the IAEA continuing its work to clarify all outstanding issues relating to Iran’s nuclear programmeme.

“The Security Council requests in 30 days a report from the director general of the IAEA on the process of Iranian compliance with the steps required by the IAEA board, to the IAEA board of governors and in parallel to the Security Council for its consideration.”

Note: The 1997 Additional Protocol to NPT gives the IAEA broader powers to check for clandestine nuclear facilities in NPT member states and to investigate inconsistencies in a state’s nuclear declarations.—AFP