France & IAEA Discuss Iran Nuclear Program and Ukraine Nuclear Safety

Diplomatic Efforts on Iran's Nuclear Program

• 🇺🇳 France supports ongoing discussions between the US and Iran, emphasizing that Europe's interest is for Iran to never possess a nuclear weapon.
• 🤝 Coordination with US officials is close, especially as the expiration of the JCPOA approaches, with a decision on reapplying sanctions expected by summer.
• 🎯 Both sides appear willing to reach an agreement for a concrete, tangible, and verifiable rollback of Iran's nuclear program.
• ⚠️ France also calls on Iran to cease its regional destabilization actions.

IAEA's Role and Monitoring Challenges

• 🔬 The IAEA is actively involved in monitoring Iran's nuclear activities, but has lost significant visibility compared to previous periods.
• 🔍 It is currently difficult for the IAEA to confirm that Iran's nuclear activities fully align with prior agreements.
• 💬 Discussions are ongoing with Iran regarding the reinstallation of monitoring equipment and necessary access for inspectors.
• ⚖️ Progress in the bilateral process between the US and Iran and the IAEA's technical verification efforts are seen as mutually reinforcing.

Nuclear Safety Concerns in Ukraine

• ☢️ The IAEA has maintained a permanent presence of experts at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant since 2022 to prevent a nuclear accident.
• ⚡ There is a significant risk of a very serious incident if military activities around the plant continue without a cessation.
• 🔌 The fate of the plant, currently in cold shutdown and in Russian-controlled territory, is part of broader diplomatic tracks and requires careful consideration for any potential restart.
• 🌍 The IAEA is prepared to play a role in ensuring the plant's future constructive contribution to the region.