Response to Amano's Recent Remarks: Acceptance of the Additional Protocol is Voluntary

The spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran stated that Iran has not suspended its nuclear activities in response to recent comments by Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and announced that the acceptance of the Additional Protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty is 'voluntary.' According to the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Behrouz Kamalvandi emphasized on Tuesday, April 4, that 'based on reports from the IAEA,' Iran is not obligated to implement the Additional Protocol. He also stated that Iran does not consider the requests from the Security Council and the IAEA Board of Governors regarding the acceptance of the Additional Protocol to be legal, which is why it has not implemented them so far. Under the Additional Protocol, which was signed during the presidency of Mohammad Khatami but was not ratified by the Islamic Consultative Assembly, IAEA inspectors would be allowed to inspect Iran's nuclear facilities whenever deemed necessary. The IAEA Director General stated on Monday, April 3, that the agency's investigations into the military dimensions of Iran's nuclear activities have made limited progress; however, Iran has cooperated with the agency in line with a temporary agreement with major world powers. Nonetheless, Amano added that the agency still cannot conclude that all of Iran's nuclear activities are peaceful. He stated, 'We continue our investigations regarding the irreversibility of Iran's nuclear materials, but we are not yet in a position to conclude that all of Iran's nuclear programs and materials are for peaceful purposes.' Amano also emphasized on Saturday, February 6, that the agency seeks unannounced inspections of Iran's undeclared nuclear facilities. Previously, the IAEA had reported on November 6 that, in response to requests from the UN Security Council and the IAEA Board of Governors for Iran to implement the Additional Protocol, the Islamic Republic has refused to implement this protocol, which allows for surprise inspections of its nuclear facilities. Iranian officials have previously shown varying positions regarding the acceptance of the Additional Protocol. Some officials, including Marzieh Afkham, the spokesperson for the Iranian Foreign Ministry, have stated that Iran might sign the Additional Protocol 'under certain conditions,' but the final decision rests with the Iranian parliament. Meanwhile, Ali Saidi, a representative of the Supreme Leader in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, stated on Tuesday, December 3, that 'we have fully accepted the agency's oversight. If they accept our rights, the parliament might also accept and ratify the protocol.' However, Aladdin Boroujerdi, the head of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission of the Iranian parliament, stated on Thursday, November 13, that if part of the final agreement between Iran and the 5+1 countries involves the acceptance of the Additional Protocol, 'the parliament will definitely intervene.' The spokesperson for the Atomic Energy Organization reiterated on Tuesday that Iran has not suspended its nuclear activities and negotiations with the 5+1 group continue. In recent months, reports have emerged about the suspension of part of Iran's nuclear activities and the possibility of reducing such activities for a period of 10 years. Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, also stated on Thursday, March 5, that the Islamic Republic might accept a proposal to limit its nuclear activities for 10 years. However, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, announced on the first of Farvardin that 'we do not accept irreversibility' in the nuclear industry.