Annex II
21 OCTOBER 2003 "TEHRAN DECLARATION"
JOINT STATEMENT AT THE END OF A VISIT TO
THE ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN BY THE FOREIGN MINISTERS OF BRITAIN,
FRANCE AND GERMANY
Tehran, 21 October 2003
1. Upon the invitation of the Government
of the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Foreign Ministers of Britain,
France and Germany paid a visit to Tehran on 21 October 2003.
The Iranian authorities and the Ministers, following extensive
consultations, agreed on measures aimed at the settlement of all
outstanding IAEA issues with regard to the Iranian nuclear programme
and at enhancing confidence for peaceful cooperation in the nuclear
field.
2. The Iranian authorities reaffirmed that
nuclear weapons have no place in Iran's defence doctrine and that
its nuclear programme and activities have been exclusively in
the peaceful domain. They reiterated Iran's commitment to the
nuclear non-proliferation regime, and informed the Ministers that:
(a) The Iranian Government has decided to
engage in full cooperation with the IAEA to address and resolve,
through full transparency, all requirements and outstanding issues
of the Agency, and clarify and correct any possible failures and
deficiencies within the IAEA.
(b) To promote confidence with a view to
removing existing barriers for cooperation in the nuclear field:
(i) Having received the necessary clarifications,
the Iranian Government has decided to sign the IAEA Additional
Protocol, and commence ratification procedures. As a confirmation
of its good intentions, the Iranian Government will continue to
cooperate with the Agency in accordance with the Protocol in advance
of its ratification.
(ii) While Iran has a right within the nuclear
non-proliferation regime to develop nuclear energy for peaceful
purposes, it has decided voluntarily to suspend all uranium enrichment
and reprocessing activities as defined by the IAEA.
3. The Foreign Ministers of Britain, France
and Germany welcomed the decisions of the Iranian Government and
informed the Iranian authorities that:
(a) Their Governments recognize the right
of Iran to enjoy peaceful use of nuclear energy in accordance
with the NPT.
(b) In their view, the Additional Protocol
is in no way intended to undermine the sovereignty, national dignity
or national security of its States Parties.
(c) In their view, the full implementation
of Iran's decisions, confirmed by the IAEA Director-General, should
enable the immediate situation to be resolved by the IAEA Board.
(d) The three Governments believe that this
will open the way to a dialogue on a basis for longer-term cooperation,
which will provide all parties with satisfactory assurances relating
to Iran's nuclear power generation programme. Once international
concerns, including those of the three Governments, are fully
resolved, Iran could expect easier access to modern technology
and supplies in a range of areas.
(e) They will cooperate with Iran to promote
security and stability in the region, including the establishment
of a zone free from weapons of mass destruction in the Middle
East in accordance with the objectives of the United Nations.
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