IAEA to Recruit Iranian Nuclear Experts

The UN nuclear agency will employ over a dozen Iranian nuclear experts in the next three years in line with agreements signed between Iran and the agency, a lawmaker said.

A final assessment report presented by the International Atomic Energy Agency to its board of governors in the closing days of 2015 ended the agency’s inquiry into Tehran’s past and present nuclear activities, clearing the path for the historic nuclear deal to take full effect.

The pact was concluded between Iran and P5+1 (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) to roll back Tehran’s nuclear work and grant it relief from international sanctions in return.

The Vienna-based agency is now tasked with monitoring and verifying Tehran’s commitments.

Its reports have confirmed Iran’s full compliance with the accord, officially termed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.

“A week after the announcement of JCPOA, Iran and the agency signed memorandums of understanding on cooperation in various fields, including on the presence of Iranians as nuclear inspectors in this international institution,” Alireza Rahimi told ICANA on Friday.

“Based on the agreement, the IAEA has committed to employ 15 Iranian nuclear inspectors over the next three years,” Rahimi added.

The IAEA-monitored curbs on Iran’s nuclear program include capping its stocks of low-enriched uranium below 300 kg and 3.67% of enrichment purity. JCPOA also bans Iran from stocking more than 130 tons of heavy water.