Compliance and Transparency Revisited: Iran and the IAEA

In the international safeguards world, the case of Iran stands out in several ways. One is as the longest unresolved case of non-compliance of an NPT signatory State - now extending over two decades. Another is the substantial increase in transparency by the IAEA in the Iran case. This paper addresses the Iranian case from those viewpoints. In 2003 undeclared activities in Iran were revealed, and the IAEA initiated its investigation of the non-compliance of Iran, following the process established by comprehensive safeguards agreements and the IAEA Statute. The IAEA Board of Governors issued nine resolutions between 2003 and 2006. The Board found Iran to be in noncompliance and reported that to the UN Security council in 2006. As of June 2008, the UN Security Council has issued 4 resolutions. In the resolutions, Iran was also requested to undertake measures to build confidence. Over the years, there have been calls for the IAEA to be more transparent with its Member States, in order to give them greater confidence in the safeguards conclusions the Director General draws. The IAEA Board of Governors derestricted the reports of the Director General to the IAEA Board and its resolutions. Derestricted documents are available on the IAEA website, facilitating a more informed discussion of the Iran case. In August 2007, a work plan on unresolved issues agreed by the Iranian authorities and the IAEA Secretariat was made public. Documents in the open literature provide a reasonably full record of the Iran case.