Iran Upgrades Physical Protection Regulations for Nuclear Power Plant

tements follows:

Statement by H.E. Ambassador Soltanieh

Resident Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the IAEA

before the International Ministerial Conference on

Nuclear Security: Enhancing Global Efforts

Vienna, 1-5 July 2013

In the Name of God, the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful

Distinguished President, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

At the outset, let me congratulate Your Excellency for the assumption of presidency of the “International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Security: Enhancing Global Efforts” and assure my delegation’s support and cooperation in discharging your task. Let me also appreciate the work done by the Director General and his colleagues in the Secretariat in preparing the first international ministerial conference on nuclear security. We are also grateful to the Ambassadors of Brazil and Hungary, as co-chairs, for their intensive consultations with Member States on the preparation of the draft ministerial declaration of the Conference.

Distinguished delegates,

I would like to share the following views concerning nuclear security:

The International Conference on Nuclear Security provides an opportunity for assessing nuclear security efforts in achieving its goals. We hope this conference helps to enhance exchange of knowledge and experiences as well as attempting to offer best possible solutions for the challenges facing nuclear security.

Undoubtedly, the best guarantee for nuclear security is a world free from nuclear weapons thus the nuclear disarmament process could strengthen nuclear security efforts. Moreover, it should be underlined that the most serious challenge for nuclear security efforts is the stocks of fissile material such as highly enriched uranium and separated plutonium, specifically possessed by nuclear weapon states, the protection of which is also a serious concern for the international community. The international community cannot wait forever to witness the total elimination of nuclear weapons. A clear time frame with a target date for the full implementation of Article VI of the NPT, namely 2025 as proposed by the Non-Aligned Movement at NPT Review Conference in 2010, is an urgent need. In this regard the Nuclear Weapon States should promptly adopt necessary measures for unequivocal and absolute diminishing role and significance of nuclear weapons in all military and security concepts, doctrines and policies.

Though the safety and security measures may have some common aims in protecting human life and health, and the environment, there is a clear distinction between their natures, as “nuclear safety” is the achievement of proper operating conditions, prevention of accidents and mitigation of accident consequences, resulting in protection of workers, the public and the environment from undue radiation hazards, but “nuclear security” is the prevention and detection of, and response to, theft, sabotage, unauthorized access, illegal transfer or other malicious acts involving nuclear material, other radioactive substances or their associated facilities. Nuclear security has direct relevance with national security with political orientation where nuclear safety has a purely technical nature. It is worth mentioning that the agencies dealing with these two areas in Member States are not the same. Therefore, due to distinctive natures of these two concepts, clear distinctions should be made while devising international measures and preparing guidelines on nuclear safety and security.

While reiterating that the responsibility for nuclear security within a State rests entirely with that State, due to the central role of the IAEA in nuclear security, the Agency can contribute to establish effective nuclear security systems by assisting Member States, upon their request, including by capacity building in Member States, implementing the guidance, knowledge sharing, as well as improving cooperation and coordination of international efforts in this field.

Distinguished delegates,

I would like to remind paragraph 196 of the Final Document of 16th Summit of Heads of State or Government of the Non-Aligned Movement, held in Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran, on 26-31 August 2012 as follows: “The Heads of State or Government emphasized that measures and initiatives aimed at strengthening nuclear safety and nuclear security must not be used as a pretext or leverage to violate, deny or restrict the inalienable right of developing countries to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination.”

Distinguished President,

Permit me to shortly touch upon some of relevant issues:

A-Confidentiality

Confidentiality is considered as an essential issue directly related to nuclear security. The IAEA, according to the Statute, has an essential responsibility to protect confidential information related to the implementation of Safeguards Agreements in Member States. Lack of observing confidentiality has led to the leakage of confidential and sensitive information, used by terrorist groups and intelligence services to sabotage nuclear facilities and terrorize those working in these facilities including nuclear scientists. This is a matter of serious concern. As all Member States are well aware, five Iranian nuclear scientists have been targeted by terrorist attacks. Therefore, I would like to appeal to all to spare no effort in preventing recurrence of such unprecedented criminal acts directed against all nuclear experts in the world. In this vein, the Agency has an important and statutory role to play including by making necessary arrangements and by implementing appropriate measures to rectify this situation.

B-Cyber Attacks

Another security concern is cyber-attacks against nuclear facilities and activities which jeopardize the health and safety of people, environment and peaceful uses of nuclear energy. In this regard we request the Agency to enhance its efforts to raise awareness of the growing threat of cyber-attacks and their potential impact on nuclear security and to make further efforts to improve international cooperation to combat such attacks.

C- Sabotage against nuclear installations

Industrial sabotage in nuclear facilities is also a dangerous threat to nuclear security. To protect nuclear facilities and nuclear material in use and stored requires the Agency to play a more active role in this domain by inter-alia preparing guidelines and recommending appropriate preventive measures as well as neutralizing such possible sabotages with minimum hazardous consequences to the people and the environment.

D- Armed Attacks against nuclear facilities

During the last three decades the nuclear failities have been attacked. Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant was several times attacked in the 1980s. The threat of attack continues in spite of the Agency’s General Coference Resolution 533 stipulating “any armed attack on and threat against nuclear facilities devoted to peaceful purposes constitutes a violation of the principles of the United Nations Charter, international law and the Statute of the Agency”. I call upon all to take serious preventive measures in this regard.

Distinguished President,

Nuclear security is a global concern therefore I would like to remind that the Resolution of the previous General Conference entitled GC (56) – RES-10 emphasizes on the need for the involvement of all Member States of the Agency in nuclear security related activities and initiatives in an inclusive manner. It is regretful that this commitment was not respected by the host countries of the Nuclear Security Summit, held in 2010 and 2012 respectively in Washington and Seoul.

In this context, I have to recall the position of the NAM Heads of State or Government: “the IAEA is the sole intergovernmental organization within the UN system with the mandate and expertise to deal with the technical subjects of nuclear safety and nuclear security”, therefore the Islamic Republic of Iran strongly believes that any multilateral norms, guidelines or rules in nuclear security should be pursued within the framework of the IAEA through a gradual, inclusive and transparent process incorporating the view of all Member States.

Mr. President, Excellencies,

The Islamic Republic of Iran is determined to harvest the beneficial peaceful uses of nuclear energy in a safe and secure manner, therefore it attaches great importance to nuclear security. In this line, it has established nuclear infrastructure, legislative and regulatory framework based on the three key areas, namely Nuclear Security, Nuclear Safeguards and Nuclear Safety, the so called 3S concepts. I limit myself to inform of few nuclear security measures taken by Iran:

A-Physical Protection

Iran is implementing stringent measures in the area of physical protection of its nuclear facilities. Since the early stages of the construction phase of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP), the fulfillment of the physical protection requirements, in line with the Agency’s recommendations, has been included in the licensing process of the plant. Prior to the operation of the plant, a Physical Protection System (PPS) for transport fuel assemblies to Iran and for fuel storage building was established and has been fully implemented. In 2004, to increase further our capabilities, the Islamic Republic of Iran invited the International Physical Protection Advisory Service (IPPAS) to revise and upgrade the PPS based on the IPPAS suggestions and expertise.

The physical protection regulations for the BNPP are revised and updated based on the IAEA document entitled “The Physical Protection of Nuclear Material and Nuclear Facilities, INFCIRC/225”.

It has also to be noted that the physical protection regulations for the whole nulcear fuel cycle facilities are established.

B-Security of Radioative Sources

Radioactive sources are extensively used and provide great benefits to humanity, primarily through their use in agriculture, industry, medicine and research applications. To ensure the management of radioactive sources securely and safely during their lifecycle, the National Radiation Protection Law adopted by Iranian parliament is fully implemented. The Nuclear Security Regulations covering category 1, 2 and 3 of sealed radioactive sources and their transport operations based on the IAEA Nuclear Security Series are implemented in Iran.

C-Illicit Trafficking of Nuclear and Other Radioactive Material

Given the fact that the illegal movement of radioactive material could endanger the health and safety of people, environment and the next generations with exposure to ionizing radiation, the Islamic Republic of Iran has committed herself to cooperate with the Agency in this respect. In this line, in 2002, the Islamic Republic of Iran joined the IAEA Illicit Trafficking Database (ITDB), recently called Incident and Trafficking Database. In order to respond effectively to illicit trafficking, the National Notification System in which licensees and other relevant national authorities inform the Point of Contact (POC) of the incidents involving nuclear and other radioactive material, is established.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has actively cooperated with the ITDB on a voluntary basis through dispatching several reports as Incident Notification Form (INF) since its membership in this database.

Distinguished Delegates,

Nuclear Security is a global concern. The Agency has to provide equal opportunity for all Member States to learn and to contribute to the process of promoting nuclear security worldwide. I have to express disappoitment that in some cases Iranian experts are deprived from participating in seminars or technical events on nuclear safety as well as nuclear security. The absence of Iranian interested top experts in the newly established Nuclear Security Guidance Committee (NSGC) is an example.

Distiguished Delegates,

In conclusion, the chrystal clear short messages of this Conference have to be:

1- The IAEA is the sole competent technical international body in nuclear security related activities and should be free from political motivations; Thus, the results of exclusive events on nuclear security could not be incorporated in the Agency’s planning and activities.

2- The IAEA is expected to facilitate further involvement of all Member States actively in its efforts aimed at strenghening nuclear security for their peaceful nuclear programs while acknowleging the Member States sole responsibility on nuclear security.

3- The nuclear security measures shall not impede or restrict peaceful uses of nuclear energy based on inalienable right enshrined in the IAEA Statute and in Article IV of the NPT.

4- Nuclear security objectives, specifically those highlighted in this Conference Declaration could only be realized if free exchange and transfer of technology and equipment on nuclear security are made between Member States without discrimination. Monopoly in this regard endangers global security.

5- Nuclear security objectives would not be fully realized without total elimination of nuclear weapons, that is complete nuclear disarmament.

Thank you for your kind attention.