IAEA releases introductory statements on agreement with Iran

IAEA Director General, Yukiya Amano.
IAEA Director General, Yukiya Amano. | Courtesy of the IAEA
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) released the introductory statement to the Board of Governors made by IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano on Tuesday.

He discussed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) that was agreed upon by the E3/EU+3 and Iran, and the United Nations Security Council's Resolution 2231 that asks the IAEA to undertake verification and monitoring activity relating to nuclear activity in Iran so that it falls in line with the agreement.

Amano also confirmed the IAEA's commitment to this task. In his statement, he requests additional resources that the IAEA states are necessary to complete its role within the JCPOA.

"The agency will require additional resources to implement the activities described in my report to the board," Amano said. "We estimate that implementation of the JCPOA will involve expenditure by the agency totaling ($10.6 million) per year. Some ($3.6 million) will go towards provisional implementation of the additional protocol. Verification and monitoring of Iran’s nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA are expected to cost ($7.1 million), which includes the costs related to our inspectors."

Amano urged members of the board to authorize the IAEA to undertake monitoring and verification of Iran's nuclear program and to approve the modification to the agency's budget relating to expected incurred costs of the JCPOA activity.