IAEA Reports Professional, Non-Political

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Yukiya Amano reiterated the technical, non-political mandate of his organization, rejecting any criticism of IAEA's performance regarding inspections of Iran's nuclear deal commitments.   "We are a technical organization and I am discharging my responsibilities based on rules, based on the IAEA standard safeguards practice. We simply keep on working and monitoring and verifying the nuclear-related commitments made by Iran under the [nuclear deal] in an impartial, objective and professional manner. So, whatever happens, we keep on working," Amano said in a Friday talk with the Los Angeles Times. He was responding to US allegations that the IAEA has failed to effectively perform its task of overseeing the curbs Tehran accepted on its nuclear program under the deal in return for sanctions relief. The Vienna-based agency's quarterly reports all have verified Iran's compliance, but Amano has been accused by the US of being too soft on Iran and failing to provide enough details supporting its assessment reports. Dismissing those allegations, Amano said, "The information collected by inspectors must be kept confidential."