IAEA’s Role in Nuclear Safety Underlined

Iran, which holds the rotating chairmanship of the Vienna Chapter of the Group of 77, emphasized the technical and training assistance that the International Atomic Energy Agency can provide to developing countries in the field of nuclear safety.

Iran's ambassador to IAEA, Reza Najafi, the rotating chairman of the group, delivered a speech to a meeting of the UN nuclear agency's Board of Governors in Vienna on Monday, Tasnim News Agency reported.

In his address, Najafi focused on the significance of nuclear safety and compliance with security standards in the nuclear industry, particularly in member states of the coalition of developing nations, known as G-77.

Emphasizing IAEA's role in coordinating international efforts to promote nuclear safety and offer technical assistance, Najafi called on the UN nuclear agency to provide G-77 plus China expert and technical training programs in nuclear safety, radiotherapy and nuclear radiation management.

Referring to the Fukushima Daiichi disaster, a nuclear power plant accident in Japan caused by tsunami in 2011, Najafi said the group believes reports by the IAEA director and other documents released by the agency "play a major role in helping member states boost nuclear safety at all levels."

The IAEA Board of Governors convened a meeting in Vienna on Monday. In the opening statement to the meeting, IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano provided an overview of the global trends in nuclear safety, security and nuclear energy, as well as an update on the agency's verification and monitoring activities in Iran.