France's Request for a 'Detailed Report' from the Agency on Iran's Nuclear Past

On the eve of one of the most important meetings of the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors regarding Iran, the French Foreign Ministry emphasized on Monday, December 9, that the Agency must disclose all aspects of Iran's past nuclear activities. The upcoming Board of Governors meeting could significantly impact the implementation or delay of Iran's nuclear agreement with global powers. According to Reuters, Roman Nadal, spokesperson for the French Foreign Ministry, called for the publication of a 'complete report' from the Agency and the provision of 'all information' regarding Iran's past nuclear program. This request comes as Iranian officials, including the Foreign Minister and his deputy, as well as the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, have recently insisted that the Agency should close the file on Iran's nuclear activities from previous years. Iranian officials argue that the past nuclear activities of Iran did not have military dimensions and that the term PMD, which stands for 'Possible Military Dimensions,' is incorrect and misleading regarding Iran's nuclear program history. Ali Shamkhani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, and Abbas Araghchi, head of Iran's delegation in the JCPOA, have stated in recent days that if this file is not closed, Iran will not feel obligated to comply with the JCPOA. The report that is to be presented to the Board of Governors by Wednesday at the latest will have significant implications for the fate of the JCPOA. The United States has expressed a willingness to close the file on Iran's past nuclear activities. However, according to Reuters, the French Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated on Monday, December 9, that the Agency must clarify the background of Iran's activities precisely and provide detailed answers to all ambiguities in this regard. If any member of the Board of Governors, including France, expresses dissatisfaction with the Agency's report on Iran's PMD, it could lead to serious delays in the implementation of the final nuclear agreement reached with global powers in July. Yukiya Amano, the Director-General of the Agency, has stated that the file on Iran's past nuclear activities is not 'black or white'; according to Reuters, if the final report of the Agency is based on Mr. Amano's statements, France may be dissatisfied with the report. France has previously shown a tougher stance compared to other negotiators during the protracted nuclear talks with Iran. The Agency's report four years ago raised 12 issues, suggesting that it was not unlikely that Iran's nuclear activities in the past were aimed at acquiring a nuclear bomb. Iran systematically denies attempting to produce a nuclear bomb, and in this regard, Ayatollah Khamenei has issued a fatwa declaring the use of nuclear bombs as forbidden. However, Hassan Karimpoor, a senior official of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, recently stated that if it were not for the fatwa of the Supreme Leader, making a nuclear bomb would be easier than making a pair of glasses.