Members of the EP Subcommittee on Defence and Security (SEDE), the EP Committee on Foreign Affairs (AFET) and the EP Committee for Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) have an exchange of views with Rafael GROSSI, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Statement of Rafael GROSSI and from Petras AUŠTREVIČIUS (Renew, LT), and Mick WALLACE (The Left, IE).

Committee on Foreign Affairs

Brussels

Committee on Industry, Research and Energy

exchange of views

meeting

Subcommittee on Security and Defence

EU - Iran (T)

AUŠTREVIČIUS, Petras (Renew, LT)

International Atomic Energy Agency

WALLACE, Mick (The Left, IE)

GROSSI, Rafael (AR)

Exchange of views with Rafael GROSSI, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Iran's situation: extracts from the joint Committee meeting SEDE/ITRE/AFET

Title: Exchange of views with Rafael GROSSI, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Iran&apos;s situation: extracts from the joint Committee meeting SEDE/ITRE/AFET

SOUNDBITE (French), GROSSI Rafael, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), We were able to achieve a minimum agreement which would allow a presence in the country and also to record information about a programme that is becoming more and more dynamic and progressing every single day, including in areas that are forbidden under the GCPEA.

SOUNDBITE (French), GROSSI Rafael, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), So the work of the agency is vital. Without the agency, without our inspectors presence on the ground, any hope of a credible agreement is impossible. And of course, we are counting on the very important support of the EU and the European Parliament in this area.

SOUNDBITE (English), GROSSI Rafael, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), I think the work and the presence of the IAEA inspectors is indispensable. Again, I must say that because of the fact that these countries are not signatories to the NPT, we have limited type of safeguards. But we do have some access and lots of informal contacts with their institutions. So my impression is that with them and with other countries in the same position, the IAEA must try to be present in as many ways as it can be.

SOUNDBITE (English), GROSSI Rafael, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), I think one important thing is that we have first of all, a strong IAEA, because the IAEA is the eyes and ears of the international community at every nuclear power plant, making sure that nuclear material is not deviated to military purposes. This is the first thing you need to have the watchdog needs to be there.

SOUNDBITE (English), Petras AU&#352;TREVI&#268;IUS (Renew, LT), We have to acknowledge that the National Council of Resistance of Iran, the opposition force, is very critical about the Iran's regime. And most recently on March 2nd, this year, they revealed the names of previously undeclared sites near the town of Aberdares in Southern Iran. It was not yet declared by the Iranian regime. And during the inspection of the site by your agency, inspectors found traces of uranium particles to which the Iranian regime has failed to respond adequately.

SOUNDBITE (English), Mick WALLACE (The Left, IE), People are critical now of the restrictions that Iran are putting on your own organisation in terms of inspections and whatever and in relation to unannounced visits and all that. But would you agree that Iran in the last 10 years has been more transparent than Israel, who we never seem to talk about when it comes to the nuclear power? We know that they have nuclear weapons, but they don't adhere to any of the international rules.