The UN Security Council this week called on Iran to re-establish full and sustained suspension of all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, in a manner that the IAEA can verify. To monitor Iranian compliance with its requirements, the Council requested a report from the IAEA in 30 days.
The Council issued its statement on 29 March, expressing serious concern over the IAEA´s inability to conclude that there are no undeclared nuclear materials or activities in Iran. The statement underlined "the willingness of the international community to work positively for such a solution, which will also benefit nuclear non-proliferation elsewhere."
"The Security Council expresses the conviction that such suspension and full and verified Iranian compliance would contribute to a diplomatic, negotiated solution that guarantees Iran´s nuclear programme is for exclusively peaceful purposes," the Council said through a statement read out by its March President César Mayoral of Argentina.
The Security Council has been meeting formally on the subject of Iran´s nuclear programme since 17 March, when it took up a report referred to it by the IAEA. The Agency report voiced concern that "uncertainties related to the scope and nature of Iran´s nuclear programme have not been clarified after three years of intensive Agency verification."
IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei had no immediate comment on the Security Council Statement. Speaking to reporters in Berlin two days ago, he said he hoped the result of the Security Council´s deliberations would be the return of all parties to the negotiating table. He further emphasized the need for transparency and confidence-building to clear outstanding issues. "I´d like to see Iran do all they can to build confidence," he said.