Interview by Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the International Organizations in Vienna Roman Ustinov to RIA Novosti news agency

Can you comment on the results of the extraordinary session of the IAEA Board of Governors?

This special session was convened at the initiative of the IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi - not at the initiative of any member state of the Board of Governors, but at his own initiative. He has the authority to do so. But it is important to understand: in his one and a half term in office, he himself convened such a session for the first time.

This is the right step, it reflects the seriousness of the situation we are facing in the context of maintaining the non-proliferation regime and the IAEA safeguards regime. The Director General directly says that the current situation - after the Israeli and US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities - is fraught with extremely serious, fateful consequences for the entire nuclear non-proliferation system. Therefore, it is necessary to take some steps. Naturally, we supported this.

Another thing is that Director General has not made any assessments or condemnations regarding the strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards. And we have begun to see another worrying trend: the emphasis in his comments is shifting to allowing IAEA inspectors to the affected sites as soon as possible.

We have made it clear that this is not the main thing now. This is not what we should focus on in the context of ongoing strikes. The main thing now is to stop the aggression against nuclear facilities. And only after that can we discuss how to restore control and resume Agency inspections of nuclear material. But this issue should not be on the agenda now.

What challenges does the IAEA face in the context of the situation around Iran?

Many member countries of the Agency's Board of Governors, including Russia, believe that the IAEA is facing one of the most serious challenges in the entire history of the Agency. And, as we have made clear, the Agency’s future largely depends on how it responds to this situation.

We value the IAEA and have always treated it with care, calling on others not to manipulate the safeguards system and their membership in the Board of Governors. We would not want the IAEA to be sidelined in the international agenda in terms of fulfilling its mandate - promoting nuclear energy and carrying out verification activities - due to its inability to make decisions.

The IAEA must show that it is capable of coping with this challenge and fulfilling its mandate by taking concrete measures. Many people at the Board of Governors have spoken about this. We will continue to consult with our like-minded partners to determine what steps the Board of Governors can take to remain relevant in this situation and to genuinely support the non-proliferation regime. This responsibility lies with the IAEA and the Board of Governors.

What does the Russian Federation insist on in this situation?

We are now talking about a situation that directly affects the essence of the IAEA’s mandate. We are dealing with targeted attacks on nuclear facilities under Agency safeguards. These facilities were inspected and there were no complaints about them - all nuclear material was used exclusively for peaceful purposes.

Thus, both key functions of the IAEA are under threat: promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy and ensuring that it is not used for military purposes. And in this context, the Agency is obliged to take a clear position.

Usually, such a position is expressed in the form of a resolution. We believe that a clear assessment should be given - condemning attacks on nuclear facilities, in this case in Iran. Director General refers to the resolutions of the IAEA General Conference, which state that attacks on such facilities are inadmissible. Within their framework, he has the authority to report to the UN Security Council and the IAEA Board of Governors on what is happening.

Unfortunately, this has not happened yet. Although many countries have already expressed the need for a formal report. Information reports on the Agency's website alone are not enough, especially in the context of ongoing strikes and growing tensions.

Russia insists on a full IAEA report that would give a clear and objective assessment of what is happening and present a picture of the consequences of the US and Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities.