2005 Review Conference to Non-Proliferation Treaty – Non-proliferation and disarmament – Report by Iran

Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the

Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons

New York, 26 April-7 May 2004

    Implementation of article VI

    Report submitted by the Islamic Republic of Iran

1.   The Islamic Republic of Iran, in implementation of paragraph 15(12) of Article VI Chapter of the Final Document of the NPT 2000 Review Conference, reports on the measures it has taken to implement Article VI and Paragraph 4(c) of the 1995 Decision on “Principles and Objectives for non-proliferation and Disarmament”.

2.   The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that reporting, as envisaged in the step 12 of the thirteen steps, provides an essential element to ascertain the implementation of obligations assumed under article VI of the NPT. The Islamic Republic of Iran is of the view that the objectivity of our analysis on the progress towards the goal of nuclear disarmament would be best served through adoption of a format properly defining categories of information required within the strengthening review process.

I.   Iran’s approach towards the Non-Proliferation Treaty

3.   Iran has been a party to the NPT since 1970, well before its entry into force, and this clearly demonstrates our long-standing support and commitment as a non-nuclear weapon state to this fundamental instrument. During the past three decades, Iran has done its utmost to achieve the objectives and purposes of the Treaty. In 1995, the Islamic Republic of Iran actively participated in the Review and Extension Conference and joined others in supporting the indefinite extension of the Treaty with the hope that the agreed package would pave the way for the early elimination of nuclear weapons.

4.   The Islamic Republic of Iran has fulfilled its obligations under all provisions of the NPT. Iran’s position, of denouncing the nuclear option, as a matter of principle, and placing its peaceful nuclear facilities under the full-scope safeguard agreement, is a clear manifestation of our commitment to a strong NPT. Iran considers the acquiring, development and use of nuclear weapons inhuman, immoral, illegal and against its very basic principles. They have no place in Iran’s defense doctrine. They do not add to Iran’s security nor do they help rid the Middle East of weapons of mass destruction, which is in Iran’s supreme interests.

5.   The Islamic Republic of Iran believes that all provisions of the NPT are of equal importance. Maintaining the balance of the “rights and obligations” enshrined in the treaty, preserves its integrity, enhances its credibility and encourages both NPT’s universality and its full implementation.

6.   In accordance with the Final Document of the 2000 NPT Review Conference, Nuclear Weapon States made an unequivocal undertaking to accomplish the total elimination of their nuclear arsenals. The thirteen practical steps for the systematic and progressive implementation of Article VI of the Treaty, as agreed in the 2000 Review Conference, should be vigorously pursued by Nuclear Weapons States. Therefore, no actions shall be made by any state, in particular Nuclear Weapon States, in contravention of those obli gations. Regrettably, the new nuclear doctrine of the United States, through development of new types of nuclear weapons and setting rationale for the possible use of nuclear weapons against Non-Nuclear Weapon States and naming Non-Nuclear Weapon States as the targets of such new inhuman weapons, is a flagrant violation of its obligations under Article VI of the Treaty and 1995 Decision on Principles and Objectives and also the commitments made by the Nuclear Weapon States in the 2000 Review Conference.

II.   Measures taken to implement Article VI

7.   The Islamic Republic of Iran has actively participated in international efforts promoting nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation. The initiatives taken towards this noble goal have always enjoyed our full support. In this regard, the Islamic Republic of Iran voted in favour of the Resolutions entitled “Towards a nuclear-weapon-free world” (58/51), “A path to the total elimination of nuclear weapons” (58/59) and “Convention on the Prohibition of the Use of Nuclear Weapons” (58/64) in the UNGA and other relevant resolutions adopted in the United Nations and other international fora.

8.   In line with other members of the Non-Aligned Movement, the Islamic Republic of Iran has, in various forums including before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), made its position clear that the use or threat of use of nuclear weapons is contrary to international law and, is therefore illegal. As the ICJ stipulated in its advisory opinion in 1996 “ there exists an obligation to pursue, in good faith, and bring to a conclusion negotiations leading to nuclear disarmament in all its aspects under strict and effective international control ”. The Islamic Republic of Iran has continuously supported the Resolution adopted annually since 1999 entitled “Follow-up to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the question of the legality of the Threat or Use of Nuclear Weapons”.

9.   Iran considers the early establishment of a subsidiary body in the Conference on Disarmament, with a mandate to start negotiations on a phased program for the complete elimination of nuclear weapons within a specified time limit, including a Nuclear Weapons Convention, to be a concrete step relating to the materialization of nuclear disarmament.

10.   The Islamic Republic of Iran played a prominent role during the negotiations of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, hoping that the conclusion of the CTBT would prevent the qualitative as well as quantitative development of nuclear weapons. The Islamic Republic of Iran as a signatory of the CTBT is an active member of the Preparatory Commission and hosts five International Monitoring System (IMS) stations.

11.   The Islamic Republic of Iran signed the Additional Protocol to its Comprehensive Safeguard Agreement on 18 December 2003 and is provisionally implementing it. We regard this as another confidence building measure to reaffirm our commitment to the NPT. All these measures have been taken in a situation where negligence to the unsafeguarded facilities and the nuclear arsenal of Israel, which enjoys the tacit support of the United States, continues to threaten regional and international peace and security.

12.   Due to the significant role that the establishment of Nuclear Weapon Free Zones plays in achieving a world entirely free from nuclear weapons, in 1974 Iran initiated the Resolution for the establishment of a Nuclear Weapon Free Zone in the Middle East. Since 1980, this Resolution has been adopted annually by consensus in the UNGA. However, Israel, confident of the political and military support of the United States and through its persistent rejection of accession to any international disarmament instrument, and in particular NPT, remains the main obstacle for the establishment of such a zone.