E3+3 Iran Nuclear Joint letter (14 June 2008)

Foreign & Commonwealth Office (UK)

Iran Nuclear: Joint letter (14/06/2008)

HE Manuchehr Mottaki
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran
Tehran
Saturday 14 June 2008

Iran is one of the oldest civilisations in the world. Its people are justifiably proud of their history, culture and heritage. It sits at a geographical crossroads. It has vast natural resources and great economic potential, which its people should be reaping to the full.

But in recent years, Iran’s relationship with the international community has been overshadowed by growing tension and mistrust, since there remains a lack of confidence in Iran’s nuclear programme. We have supported the IAEA’s efforts to address this with Iran but successive IAEA reports have concluded that it is not able to provide credible assurances about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran. Two years ago, the IAEA referred the matter to the UN Security Council, which has now passed four Resolutions calling on Iran to comply with its obligations.

We, the Foreign Ministers of China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, joined in this endeavour by the European Union High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy, are convinced that it is possible to change the present state of affairs. We hope that Iran’s leaders share the same ambition.

In June 2006, we set out an ambitious proposal for a broad-based negotiation. We offered to work with Iran on a modern nuclear energy programme, with a guaranteed fuel supply. We were also prepared to discuss political and economic issues, as well as issues regarding regional security. These proposals were carefully considered and designed to address Iran’s essential interests and those of the international community.

Today, bearing in mind the provisions of UN Security Council resolution 1803, we restate our offer to address constructively these important concerns and interests.

Our proposals are attached to this letter. Iran is, of course, free to suggest its own proposals. Formal negotiations can start as soon as Iran’s enrichment-related and reprocessing activities are suspended. We want to be clear that we recognise Iran’s rights under the international treaties to which it is a signatory. We fully understand the importance of a guaranteed fuel supply for a civil nuclear programme. We have supported the Bushehr facility. But with rights come responsibilities, in particular to restore the confidence of the international community in Iran’s programme. We are ready to work with Iran in order to find a way to address Iran’s needs and the international community’s concerns, and reiterate that once the confidence of the international community in the exclusively peaceful nature of your nuclear programme is restored, it will be treated in the same manner as that of any Non-Nuclear Weapon State party to the Non Proliferation Treaty.

We ask you to consider this letter and our proposals carefully and hope for an early response. The proposals we have made offer substantial opportunities for political, security and economic benefits to Iran and the region. There is a sovereign choice for Iran to make. We hope that you will respond positively; this will increase stability and enhance prosperity for all our people.

HE Mr Yang Jiechi
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China

HE Dr Bernard Kouchner
Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the French Republic

HE Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Germany

HE Mr Sergei Viktorovich Lavrov
Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation

HE Mr David Miliband
Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

HE Dr Condoleezza Rice
Secretary of State of the United States of America

HE Dr Javier Solana
High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy

***

Possible Areas of Cooperation with Iran

In order to seek a comprehensive, long-term and proper solution of the Iranian nuclear issue consistent with relevant UN Security Council resolutions and building further upon the proposal presented to Iran in June 2006, which remains on the table, the elements below are proposed as topics for negotiations between China, France, Germany, Iran, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, joined by the High Representative of the European Union, as long as Iran verifiably suspends its enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, pursuant to OP 15 and OP 19(a) of UNSCR 1803. In the perspective of such negotiations, we also expect Iran to heed the requirements of the UNSC and the IAEA. For their part, China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union High Representative state their readiness:

- to recognize Iran's right to develop research, production and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in conformity with its NPT obligations;

- to treat Iran's nuclear programme in the same manner as that of any Non-nuclear Weapon State Party to the NPT once international confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of Iran's nuclear programme is restored.

Nuclear Energy

- Reaffirmation of Iran's right to nuclear energy for exclusively peaceful purposes in conformity with its obligations under the NPT.

- Provision of technological and financial assistance necessary for Iran's peaceful use of nuclear energy, support for the resumption of technical cooperation projects in Iran by the IAEA.

- Support for construction of LWR based on state-of-the-art technology.

- Support for R&D in nuclear energy as international confidence is gradually restored.

- Provision of legally binding nuclear fuel supply guarantees.

- Cooperation with regard to management of spent fuel and radioactive waste.

Political

- Improving the six countries' and the EU's relations with Iran and building up mutual trust.

- Encouragement of direct contact and dialogue with Iran.

- Support Iran in playing an important and constructive role in international affairs.

- Promotion of dialogue and cooperation on non-proliferation, regional security and stabilisation issues.

- Work with Iran and others in the region to encourage confidence-building measures and regional security.

- Establishment of appropriate consultation and co-operation mechanisms.

- Support for a conference on regional security issues.

- Reaffirmation that a solution to the Iranian nuclear issue would contribute to non-proliferation efforts and to realizing the objective of a Middle East free of weapons of mass destruction, including their means of delivery.

- Reaffirmation of the obligation under the UN Charter to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state or in any other manner inconsistent with the Charter of the United Nations.

- Cooperation on Afghanistan, including on intensified cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking, support for programmes on the return of Afghan refugees to Afghanistan; cooperation on reconstruction of Afghanistan; cooperation on guarding the Iran-Afghan border.

Economic

Steps towards the normalization of trade and economic relations, such as improving Iran's access to the international economy, markets and capital through practical support for full integration into international structures, including the World Trade Organization, and to create the framework for increased direct investment in Iran and trade with Iran.

Energy Partnership

Steps towards the normalization of cooperation with Iran in the area of energy: establishment of a long-term and wide-ranging strategic energy partnership between Iran and the European Union and other willing partners, with concrete and practical applications/measures.

Agriculture

- Support for agricultural development in Iran.

- Facilitation of Iran's complete self-sufficiency in food through cooperation in modern technology.

Environment, Infrastructure

- Civilian Projects in the field of environmental protection, infrastructure, science and technology, and high-tech:

= Development of transport infrastructure, including international transport corridors.

= Support for modernisation of Iran's telecommunication infrastructure, including by possible removal of relevant export restrictions.

Civil Aviation

- Civil aviation cooperation, including the possible removal of restrictions on manufacturers exporting aircraft to Iran:

= enabling Iran to renew its civil aviation fleet;

= assisting Iran to ensure that Iranian aircraft meet international safety standards.

Economic, social and human development/humanitarian issues

- Provide, as necessary, assistance to Iran's economic and social development and humanitarian need.
- Cooperation/technical support in education in areas of benefit to Iran:

= Supporting Iranians to take courses, placements or degrees in areas such as civil engineering, agriculture and environmental studies;

= Supporting partnerships between Higher Education Institutions e.g. public health, rural livelihoods, joint scientific projects, public administration, history and philosophy.

- Cooperation in the field of development of effective emergency response capabilities (e.g. seismology, earth quake research, disaster control etc.).

- Cooperation within the framework of a "dialogue among civilizations".

Implementation mechanism

- Constitution of joint monitoring groups for the implementation of a future agreement.

ENDS

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