Press release
Minister Coveney speaks with DG of the International Atomic Energy Agency
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Foreign Affairs
Published on
Last updated on
Today Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney spoke with Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi.
Following the meeting the Minister said:
"Ireland is committed to the preservation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA). In today’s discussion with IAEA DG Grossi, we discussed recent developments including the IAEA’s monitoring and verification of the agreement.
"I thanked DG Grossi and the IAEA for their professional and robust monitoring and verification of the JCPoA. I assured DG Grossi of Ireland’s continued support to him and his team as UNSCR 2231 Facilitator as well as during Ireland’s upcoming membership on the IAEA Board of Governors in September 2021. What is needed now is dialogue between all stakeholders in order to facilitate a return to implementation of the agreement."
The Minister added:
"I am pleased to announce that Ireland will provide €100,000 to support the Agency’s monitoring and verification of the JCPoA."
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is responsible for the monitoring and verification of the Iran Nuclear Deal (Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action- JCPoA). Ireland has been appointed as Facilitator for Resolution 2231 on the UN Security Council. This Resolution provides for the Security Council’s engagement with the Iranian nuclear deal, the JCPOA.
Ireland is Facilitator of Resolution 2231 on the Security Council. In this role, Ireland updates the Council on progress towards implementing Iran’s nuclear agreement, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
The JCPOA was agreed in 2005 between Iran and the E3+3 (France, Germany, UK, US, China, Russia). The US, under President Trump, withdrew from the agreement in 2018. The Biden Administration have indicated a willingness to re-engage with the JCPOA, should Iran come back into compliance.
On 2 March the government announced the re-establishment of an Irish Mission in Tehran, to be headed at Chargé d’Affaires level. The Mission will be co-located with the German Embassy under a co-location agreement.
The government also committed to re-establishing an Irish Embassy in Tehran by 2023.
Minister Coveney visited Tehran on 7 March 2021.