The International Atomic Energy Agency chief said Tehran's decision to implement the Additional Protocol to its safeguards agreement will greatly help the UN agency's investigation into Iran's nuclear program.
Yukiya Amano made the remark in an address to the 59th Annual Regular Session of the IAEA General Conference in Vienna on Monday, according to the website of the UN nuclear watchdog. The IAEA' Board of Governors has authorized the IAEA director general to undertake the verification and monitoring of Iran's nuclear-related commitments under the July 14 nuclear deal between Iran and major powers, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
"As stated in the JCPOA, Iran will implement the Additional Protocol. This will give the agency greater access to information and to sites in Iran. Implementation of the Additional Protocol is an essential prerequisite for the agency to be able to provide, in due course, credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran." Tehran denies the allegation that it may be seeking to develop a nuclear weapons capability under the guise of a civilian program, saying the work is entirely for peaceful purposes such as generating electricity and medical applications.
Transparency Measures
Amano said, "Iran has also agreed under the JCPOA to implement additional transparency measures, which will help the agency to have a better understanding of Iran's nuclear program."
The IAEA says its regular budget is not enough to fund the extra work of overseeing the implementation of the nuclear pact.
"The costs of the agency's work in monitoring and verifying Iran's nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA will need to be addressed, both through the regular budget and extra-budgetary contributions, in the coming years." On the agreement Iran and the IAEA signed alongside the JCPOA to resolve the pending issues regarding Tehran's nuclear work, Amano said, "On July 14, Iran and the agency signed a roadmap for the clarification of past and present outstanding issues regarding Iran's nuclear program by the end of this year.
"As agreed in the roadmap, Iran provided the agency with explanations in writing, and related documents, for the clarification of the outstanding issues. We reviewed this information and submitted our questions to Iran last week."
