NEWS RELEASES

November 29, 2004 (3:10 p.m. EST) No. 142

CANADA SUPPORTS RESOLUTION ON IRAN’S NUCLEAR PROGRAM

Foreign Affairs Minister Pierre Pettigrew today issued the following statement after the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) adopted a resolution on Iran’s nuclear program:

“Canada supports the adoption by the IAEA of a strong resolution concerning Iran. This represents a first step toward a potential permanent solution addressing serious international concerns about Iran’s nuclear activities.

“The resolution is a balanced outcome. On the one hand, it highlights Iran’s clear and repeated failure over many years to comply with its Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty safeguards obligations. On the other hand, the resolution acknowledges the progress that has been made by the IAEA in investigating the scope and nature of Iran’s nuclear activities.

“The resolution takes into account the agreement reached on November 14 between Iran and the United Kingdom, France and Germany. Canada has offered its guarded support for this agreement, through which Iran has undertaken to suspend all uranium-enrichment activities. However, the future of this suspension depends on the negotiation of a longer-term arrangement.

“This is a final opportunity for Iran to begin the process of restoring international confidence in its nuclear program. To do so, Iran must cease all uranium-enrichment and other proliferation-sensitive activities and sustain this suspension in a comprehensive and transparent manner. If it does not do so, Canada will urge the IAEA to take immediate action and to report Iran’s non-compliance to the United Nations Security Council.”

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