Amano: Decision on Possible Military Dimensions Lies with the Board of Governors

Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated that the agency's report regarding the potential military dimensions (PMD) of Iran's nuclear program will be based on facts, and the decision-making in this regard rests with the IAEA Board of Governors. According to Reuters, Amano said on Thursday, November 26, in a press conference regarding the final report on the 'possible military dimensions' of Iran's nuclear program: 'This report will not be black and white.' He also emphasized that 'what I can say now is that this is not an issue that can be answered with a simple yes or no.' Furthermore, in response to a question about how the agency's report would be, Amano stressed that the IAEA's report on the possible military dimensions of Iran's nuclear program would be based on 'real data' and that the decision in this regard would be up to the agency's members. The IAEA announced in 2011 that one of its member countries provided 'reliable' information indicating that Iran had engaged in military activities related to its nuclear program in the past. However, Iran rejects this claim, considering such information to be 'fabricated.' Under the 'roadmap,' Iran had until October 15 of last month to provide its responses regarding the possible military dimensions. The agency's report on this issue is crucial for the nuclear agreement between Iran and the 1+5 group in Vienna, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and the IAEA Board of Governors is set to express its opinion on this matter. Earlier reports indicated that at the first meeting of the Board of Governors following the IAEA's international report, likely on December 15, the members would express their views on 'closing the file on past issues of Iran or keeping it open.' According to the terms of the nuclear agreement between Iran and the six world powers, the 1+5 has committed to presenting a draft resolution aimed at closing the file to the Board of Governors. Meanwhile, Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, in a letter to the Iranian President regarding the implementation of the Vienna nuclear agreement, stated that Iran's actions to limit its nuclear activities are only permissible when the IAEA announces the 'end' of the file concerning the possible military dimensions of Iran's nuclear program.