Good morning, Ladies and Gentlemen.

I have just informed the Board about my visit to Iran at the weekend, during which I had talks with President Rouhani and other senior officials, as well as members of parliament.

I told the Board that significant progress has been achieved in the implementation of the Road-map.

I reported on my visit to a particular location at the Parchin site, which, as I have said many times, is important in order to clarify issues related to possible military dimensions to Iran�s nuclear programme.

Deputy Director General Varjoranta and I went to the site on Sunday. This was the first time that the Agency had visited the location.

We entered a building which the Agency had previously only been able to observe using satellite imagery.

Inside the building, we saw indications of recent renovation work. There was no equipment in the building.

Our experts will now analyse this information and we will have discussions with Iran in the coming weeks, as foreseen in the Road-map.

As I have stated in my reports to the Board, the extensive work that has been conducted at the location since early 2012 undermines the Agency�s ability to conduct effective verification there.

Before our visit, certain IAEA safeguards activities were carried out at the particular location at the Parchin site. These included the taking of environmental samples.

Sample taking is a complex process.

As a result of experience gained over the years, the Agency has, in certain circumstances, permitted States� representatives to carry out activities in support of the Agency�s verification work. This is done in a way that ensures that the Agency�s verification processes are not compromised.

In the case of Parchin, the Iranian side played a part in the sample-taking process by swiping samples.

The Agency can confirm the integrity of the sampling process and the authenticity of the samples, which were taken at places of interest to the Agency at the particular location in Parchin.

Authentication by the Agency of the samples was achieved through use of an established verification process. The process was carried out under our responsibility and monitoring. The samples have been brought to Vienna and will be analysed by Agency experts.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The implementation of the Road-map has reached an important phase.

Verification activities at the Parchin site were conducted in a manner consistent with our standard safeguards practices. All the information obtained is now being assessed by the Agency.

However, much work remains in the weeks ahead. Full implementation of the Road-map is essential to clarify all outstanding past and present issues regarding Iran�s nuclear programme, as set out in the annex to my report of November 2011.

Thank you.

By IAEA .org