Disarmament Documentation

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Iran, September 13, 2006

Transcript of Press Conference by Secretary-General Kofi Annan at United Nations Headquarters, Secretary-General SG/SM/10633, September 13, 2006.

The Secretary-General: Good Morning, Ladies and Gentlemen,

As you know, I have just come back from a trip to the Middle East...

And, of course, we also have the Iranian nuclear dossier, where I had the chance also to discuss with Iranian leaders in Tehran. I was very pleased to see that Mr. Javier Solana and Mr. [Ali] Larijani met last Saturday and another meeting is planned on Thursday. I notice there is a bit of a shift. When I was in Iran, the Iranians maintained that they would not suspend [uranium enrichment] as a precondition, but that suspension can be part of the agenda at the negotiations. And now the discussions that were held on [Saturday] have been reported as constructive and fruitful, and I hope the next meeting will be equally fruitful, and that we will find a way of resolving this issue peacefully. I don't think confrontation is in anyone's interest. I can also say that, in the region, there was lots of anxiety about this issue, with leaders telling me, "We cannot afford another crisis in this region." And I appeal to the Iranians to really work with the international community and lift the cloud of uncertainty surrounding their programme. So, hopefully, this will be done...

Question: ... because of the fact that you visited the Middle East and everything in Iran, my question to you is on Iran. You have met with the leaders of Iran just now, and you have just now also said that you're asking them to be more flexible and that the talks should continue. What is it that you've seen: the ray of hope have you seen, the ray of hope in order to avoid this crisis which we are about to confront?

The Secretary-General: On the Iranian issue, I think I do note there is a slight shift -- I wouldn't say it's a major shift -- a slight shift in the sense that they are now saying that, "Let's negotiate." Suspension will be on the agenda and may be possible during the negotiations, not that it's outright rejection. And this is, I think, something that the parties have to explore. And I suspect this is what Javier Solana is exploring with Larijani. And eventually, when the parties sit together, I hope they will find a way out of this and avoid a confrontation.

Question: Continuing on the Iran situation, the question is: how long would the US, the UK, the European partners who are keen to really get possible sanctions against Iran: how much time should they give, and how should they measure whether Iran is just stalling for time? And what is the threshold that they should say, "Enough is enough; let's move ahead"? Or how should they gauge that, do you think? How much patience should they have?

The Secretary-General: There's quite a bit of mistrust between both sides. That is clear. The West believes that Iran has to re-establish trust and confidence. The Iranians tell me the same thing: that the West has to establish confidence with them. I hope that discussions which are going on will help build some confidence for the two to move forward. When you talk to the two sides, for example, the West will tell you the Iranians have been stringing along the negotiations in order to continue with their enrichment and that they kept stringing us along and suddenly there they were in the midst of enrichment. When you talk to the Iranians, they believe that they have been deceived. They were at the table for two years, were prepared to do all sort of things, and nothing happened. And suddenly, they were before the G-8 and the Security Council.

I'm sharing this with you to underscore the lack of trust on both sides that needs to be rebuilt so that we can go forward. I don't think it's a question of how much time do you have to give before you lose patience. I think it should be dictated by the process of the negotiations or discussions and what progress is being made, and also what tools you have for achieving your goals. What is the goal? How do you get there? How best do you achieve it? Do you do it with sanctions, or do you get them to the table and negotiate? In my judgement, as I've said time and time again, the best solution is a negotiated one. I've also told the Iranians, if their intention is really clear and is peaceful, they should open up their system and tell the inspectors, "We have nothing to hide; come in"; apply, even implement, the Additional Protocol even if it's not been signed.

So I think it's a question of, really, a bit more confidence being developed and each focusing on the issue at hand and what it takes to settle it, without artificial deadlines that you have to do it at this time or else. I think that leads to further complications and difficulties.

Question: I might as well continue on Iran. I understand you told Council members the other day that they should give Iran a ladder to climb down on. Did you have anything in particular in mind for the rungs of the ladder? And I wondered what brought you to that point, because in your Middle East trip that was your one big black hole: on both Lebanon and on the nuclear…

The Secretary-General: No, let me say that, on Iran, I had not gone to Iran to resolve the nuclear issue. My main purpose for going to the region is to drum up support for 1701 and to shore up the cessation of hostilities.

It was really fortuitous that I was in Iran at the time and I took up this issue with them. But I think if you look at the problem as it is -- one party saying, "Suspend and then we negotiate", the other side says, "Negotiate and then maybe suspend" -- one had to find a way of testing the seriousness of this and really bringing them to the table to discuss.

Discussions are going on, as I said, between Javier Solana and Larijani, and also among the Member States. I am also in touch with them but, at this stage, I think we should give the process a chance to move forward and let it run its course -- the Larijani-Javier Solana discussions. I have indicated it seems to be going well, and I would not want to say or do anything that would interfere...

Question: Mr. Secretary. I would like to ask you, in the light of having a non-nuclear Middle East, what have you done, or what would you do, to encourage Israel to join the NPT? A follow-up question is, from your point of view, what is the optimal solution to overcome the existing problem among the parties?

The President: Existing problem?

Question: Existing problems among the parties, that means get rid of the differences, come up with the optimal solution. You know what I mean by optimal solution?

The Secretary-General: I know that the question of Israel having a nuclear bomb has been at the top of the discussions in the region. Even as we discuss the Iranian issues, sometimes the question is raised: Why are you focusing on Iran but not on Israel? But the fact is that Iran is a member of the NPT. Iran entered into certain commitments and certain understandings with the international community, and it is being asked to live up to them.

I think, as far as the nuclear-free zone region, I think most of the Governments in the region would prefer to see a nuclear-free zone. They would prefer to avoid an arms race, an arms race that becomes more than the acquisition of conventional weapons but even competition to acquire nuclear weapons. So, they are following what is happening in the debate on this whole nuclear issue very, very carefully. So the stakes are quite high as to how we handle this problem...

Question: Mr. Secretary-General, do you think the world needed to be more patient and give more opportunity and time to Iran for solution of the nuclear problem?

The Secretary-General: I believe that the negotiations should continue and, as I said, I am encouraged by the recent developments between Mr. Solana and Mr. Larijani. I hope this will lead to constructive talks that will help us resolve this problem once and for all.

Source: United Nations website, http://www.un.org.

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