The Islamic Republic of Iran
Positions for the International Atomic Energy Agency
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- Enhancing Safety and Security Standards of Nuclear Power Facilities
In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful, the Islamic Republic of Iran recognizes the need for security of nuclear energy facilities. High levels of security are a must for all nuclear facilities. The IAEA strives to prevent and detect theft, sabotage, unauthorized access, illegal transfer, and nuclear terrorism. We are seeking to use the JCPOA as grounds to increase security for every nation. Nuclear terrorism is a threat to all nuclear countries, and therefore all countries must maintain a high level of security. Iran has increased video security by 90% and increased its personnel 120 fold at its facilities. The security protocol the AEOI abides by comes from Annex III point 32 of the JCPOA security recommendations. A major security risk the world faces is the stock pile of used uranium byproduct from nuclear energy plants. We have reduced our uranium stockpile from 10,000kg to 300kg. Also, the AEOI only enriches the U-233 to 3.67%, which is an adequate amount for the production of clean and sustainable energy. This low level enrichment allows use to convert the uranium to a natural uranium state allowing it to be reused by centrifuge, meaning the system is self-yielding, to a degree. This system can continuously produce energy and every country should follow this same process as it is the most efficient and safest for the environment.
In addition, we would like others to observe we have decreased the number of active nuclear facilities as stated in the JCPOA, such as shutting down the Arak heavy water reactor. All nuclear countries need to evaluate the safety of every facility in their jurisdictions and close plants that are unsafe. Sections from the JCPOA should be used to regulate every nation’s nuclear energy facilities and any nation not in compliance with up to date safety standards should face sanctions from the United Nations, as nuclear insecurity jeopardizes the well-being of the world. IAEA member countries should observe that we have decreased the number of active centrifuges as demanded in the JCPOA. Iran has granted the IAEA full access to our nuclear energy facilities, uranium mining facilities, and research reactors. Our government continues to be transparent in our negotiations and interactions with the IAEA. We call upon UN Member States to follow our lead and allow IAEA inspectors full access to their facilities in order to assess the security of their nuclear energy programs. The Islamic Republic of Iran continues to follow the norms enshrined in the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty we signed in 1970 and encourages others to sign the agreement and assist in the prevention of nuclear armamentswhile enabling the use of safe nuclear technologyMember States need for domestic energy purposes.
There is a clear need for increased security around and at nuclear facilities. An increase of manpower and video security will help countries to further secure their facilities. We are requesting every nation follow our lead in security increases. We are also requesting other countries to examine the JCPOA and use the applicable pieces for themselves as this agreement has allowed us to achieve the high level of security around our facilities we maintain today. Iran is a country looking for clean viable nuclear energy that can secure a clean and free future for our citizens. No one can emphasize enough the importance of properly securing these facilities. A secure nuclear energy program is a secure future for all.
II: Developing Solutions and Promoting Cooperation for the Disposal of Nuclear Waste
The Islamic Republic of Iran stands for peace, religion, and innovation. The Iranian people are intellects, and some of them are scientists that devote their lives to finding efficient methods of energy production. As all developing or developed countries with nuclear energy have to deal with, we are looking for safer ways to store nuclear waste. Our National Nuclear Waste Policy has goals of protecting human health, protecting the environment, protection beyond national borders, and protecting future generations. In accordance with the IAEA’s 1995 declaration, Iran wants to avoid imposing any “undue burdens on future generations.” For LLW and ILW, Iran uses near-surface disposal. LLW includes things like the tools and clothes used in our facilities, and ILW includes liquid waste, steel from inside our reactors, and filters close to the reactor. Iran uses secure landfills and burial methods to dispose of LLW and ILW. We abide by IAEA standards established in SSR-5. As for HLW, Iran does not have a method of disposal, but only a method of storage. Also, at our nuclear facility, JHL, we have scientists working constantly to find more efficient and safe ways to dispose of nuclear material. Since the Persian Empire, our people have been leading the world in the development of technology. Our scientists have the intellectual heritage of their ancestors, and they apply their vast knowledge and skills to the contemporary field of nuclear research. Our work as intellectuals is saving future generations from potential nuclear disasters due to the improper disposal of nuclear waste.
As a regional superpower, with a strong culture of religion and intellect, we believe we are setting an example for the world to follow. We want other countries with developing nuclear energy programs to invest in the research of nuclear disposal and to help us find more efficient ways to preserve the environment. Iran is currently storing HLW in accordance with IAEA standards set in the above statute. We are a nation of honesty and transparency, and we will gladly show the IAEA our progress as a nuclear country. As the IAEA has established and as JHL scientists have affirmed, there is currently no safer way to dispose of LLW and ILW nuclear waste than to use near-surface methods, but as for HLW, our scientists are looking for ways to store it miles beneath the surface of the earth where it will be restrained from poisoning the environment and its citizens. Iran is researching this method of disposal, and we propose that all countries abide by the same research standards to help the world to find safer ways to dispose of HLW. Our research is improving the methods in which we bury nuclear material into the earth or store it, and our methods are in full compliance with IAEA and agreements, as noted by IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano, who wrote a statement to the Board of Governors last year confirming our compliance. Inspectors have found no flaws in our methodology.
Iran leads in innovation and in consideration for our planet’s health, and we encourage other countries to follow Iran’s lead in nuclear research, and we also encourage them to adopt the same methods we use for disposal. Our ultimate proposal is that countries with developing nuclear programs cooperate with the IAEA and its hard working scientists. We not only hope for cooperation with the IAEA, but we also hope that that research facilities between developing nations share information on HLW nuclear disposal. Nuclear research should be a collaborative effort in an attempt to contain the threats of nuclear disaster through the mishandling of nuclear waste. Without cooperation on this sensitive issue, we as members of Allah’s beautifully designed planet may be putting our home in jeopardy. Iran will be open to consider any suggestions regarding our methods of disposal, and we will gladly offer some suggestions to other developing nuclear research facilities.