Monitoring Iran And Promoting Peaceful Nuclear Use – The IAEA's Role Explained
19 June 2025
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) dates back to 1957 and was set up in response to global fears following the first use of nuclear and atomic weapons and alarm over the advent and spread of nuclear technology. An autonomous part of the United Nations system, it works on issues as varied as food safety, cancer control and sustainable development – and also on promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
Another principal responsibility, perhaps less well understood, is the agency's framework of nuclear 'safeguards' agreements. These agreements are voluntarily entered into by countries and are key to preventing the spread of nuclear weapons by independently verifying whether countries are meeting their non-proliferation commitments. As of 2024, some 182 countries have safeguards agreements with the IAEA.
In a June 9 address to the agency's board, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi laid out troubling findings, raising fresh concerns about Iran's compliance with global nuclear agreements.
'Iran has repeatedly either not answered' IAEA requests 'or not provided technically credible answers,' Mr. Grossi told the 35-nation board on Monday. Additionally, he said, Iran has sought to 'sanitise the locations,' which the agency has now concluded were part of a 'structured' nuclear programme in the early 2000s.
'Unless and until Iran assists the agency in resolving the outstanding safeguards issues, the Agency will not be in a position to provide assurance that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful,' he said.
Mr. Grossi expressed alarm at the rapid accumulation of over 400 kilogrammes of highly enriched uranium, which has serious implications (highly enriched uranium is one of the necessary components for the creation of a nuclear bomb).
The statement to the board underlined the significant role the IAEA plays in Iran, which can be broken down into four main areas.
1. Monitoring
The agency uses safeguard agreements under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a key international accord designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. The vast majority of safeguards agreements are those that have been concluded by the IAEA with non-nuclear-weapon States. However, safeguards are implemented in three States that are not party to the NPT – India, Pakistan and Israel – on the basis of item-specific agreements they have concluded with the IAEA.
As a non-nuclear armed signatory to the treaty, Iran is banned from acquiring nuclear weapons and is required to allow the IAEA to inspect and verify all nuclear materials and activities, including at short notice, if asked.
The agency regularly inspects Iran's nuclear facilities, including sites like Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. The aim is to ensure that nuclear materials are only used for peaceful means and are not diverted for weapons use.
On 9 June, Mr. Grossi noted that man-made uranium particles had been found at three more, undeclared sites (Varamin, Marivan and Turquzabad). Iran, he said, had failed to provide 'technically credible explanations' for the presence of the particles, despite years of consultations.
2. Reporting
The agency regularly reports to its Board of Governors on the nuclear activities of Iran (and other countries), using methods such as inspections, monitoring equipment, environmental sampling, and satellite imagery to gather data and prepare technical reports. In the case of countries under special scrutiny – such as Iran – these reports are typically issued every quarter.
If Iran – or any non-nuclear weapon country party to the NPT – fails to comply with the IAEA's requirements (for example, by limiting access or not explaining the presence of uranium particles), the agency can report Iran to the UN Security Council, which may lead to diplomatic pressure, sanctions or calls for further negotiations.
3. Diplomatic engagement
The IAEA frequently calls for diplomatic solutions and emphasises the importance of dialogue to resolve concerns about Iran's nuclear intentions. Director General Grossi has engaged directly with Iranian authorities and international stakeholders to maintain communication and transparency.
Addressing the Security Council on June 13, Mr. Grossi said that his agency was in constant contact with the Iranian Nuclear Regulatory Authority to assess the status of affected facilities and determine broader impacts on nuclear safety and security.
4. Safety and security oversight
This is a critical part of the IAEA's broader mission to prevent nuclear accidents, ensure that nuclear energy is used for peaceful purposes, and protect people and the environment.
The IAEA works with the Iranian authorities to ensure that nuclear facilities like Natanz, Fordow, and Esfahan operate safely, by assessing the design and operation of the facilities, monitoring radiation protection measures, and evaluating emergency preparedness.
After the June 2025 Israeli strikes, the IAEA confirmed that Natanz had been impacted but reported no elevated radiation levels. However, it emphasised that any military attack on nuclear facilities is a violation of international law and poses serious risks to safety and the environment.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
3 hours ago
- Scoop
UN Experts Condemn Israeli Attack On Iran And Urge End To Hostilities
GENEVA (20 June 2025) – UN experts* today unequivocally condemned recent Israeli military attacks against Iran, which have targeted nuclear facilities, energy and military infrastructure, as well as residential and media buildings across multiple locations. 'These attacks represent a flagrant violation of fundamental principles of international law, a blatant act of aggression and a violation of jus cogens norms—peremptory rules of international law from which no derogation is permitted,' the experts said. Article 2(4) of the Charter of the United Nations prohibits the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state, including through any purported claim of preventive self-defense against alleged nuclear proliferation or terrorism. The experts noted reports that Israel's strikes targeting nuclear and uranium enrichment facilities, air defense installations, and command centers, resulted in the extrajudicial killing of Iranian civilian scientists, military commanders and other government officials. Although journalists are civilians protected under international law, Iran's state television channel was reportedly also targeted, causing the death of three media workers. The bombing has caused severe damage and civilian casualties in various areas of the capital Tehran. They also noted reports that Iran's armed response had caused damage to a hospital and residential buildings, among military and energy infrastructure targeted in Israel. 'Israel's attack and Iran's response – with successive waves of attacks against each other's territory – have resulted in many civilian casualties, confirming our grave concerns about this destructive cycle of violence,' the experts said. The experts noted preliminary casualty figures of at least 224 deaths in Iran, with approximately 90% reported to be civilians, and 24 civilian deaths in Israel. They underlined the obligation of all parties to strictly abide by international humanitarian law, including the obligations to avoid deliberate, indiscriminate or disproportionate attacks on civilian objects. They recalled that even when acting in self-defense, States are bound by principles of proportionality, distinction and precaution. 'We are particularly alarmed by reports of the deaths and injuries of women and children, who are among the most vulnerable in armed conflict and disproportionately bear the brunt of such violence,' the experts said. They also agreed with the International Atomic Energy Agency that military action against or near nuclear facilities poses unacceptable risks to regional and international security, as well as catastrophic humanitarian and ecological impacts. 'The timing of the strikes — coinciding with ongoing diplomatic efforts in Muscat aimed at reviving the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) — raises serious concerns about the deliberate undermining of peace initiatives,' the experts said. 'This aggravates the charges against Israel of posing a threat to peace and security in the region and beyond.' The experts warned that Israel's attack on Iran and ensuing violence marked a dangerous escalation of risks in a region already strained by overlapping crises and geopolitical rivalries, noting that the normalisation of the use of force as an instrument of foreign policy threatened to collapse the international legal order which is already under significant strain. 'We are gravely concerned that the recent strikes form part of a broader pattern of unlawful unilateral acts by Israel,' the experts said. 'They occur alongside ongoing and intensifying occupation, annexation, apartheid and violence in the West Bank as well as genocidal violence against the people of Gaza, including through systematic use of starvation and domicide. All of which amounts to international crimes punished under the Rome statute and grave violations of international humanitarian and human rights law,' they said. The experts stressed that these multiple crises must not be viewed in isolation. 'The implications of the current escalation extend far beyond the Middle East,' they said. 'They strike at the core of the international system founded on respect for the sovereign equality of states, the peaceful settlement of disputes, and the prohibition of unilateral military action.' The UN experts urged the international community to take principled and coordinated action to uphold international law, prevent further escalation and cease hostilities. They stressed the necessity of respecting the ongoing international proceedings against Israel for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. The proceedings impose an absolute and non-derogable obligation not to recognise, trade with, provide aid to, or assist a state accused of atrocity crimes. 'Stopping the supply of arms to Israel is the first step to return to peace and stability in the region,' the experts said. 'World leaders must recommit to diplomacy and dialogue in resolving disputes in a peaceful manner according to the UN Charter and international law,' they said. 'Failure to act will drag the entire region and beyond into the abyss.' *The experts: George Katrougalos, the Independent expert on the promotion of a democratic and equitable international order ; Mai Sato, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran ; Claudia Mahler, the Independent Expert on the enjoyment of all human rights by older persons; Morris Tidball-Binz, the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions ; Ben Saul, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms while countering terrorism; Irene Khan, the Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression ; Surya Deva, the Special Rapporteur on the right to development ; Michael Fakhri, the Special Rapporteur on the right to food ; Gina Romero, the Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association ; Francesca Albanese, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 ; Nicolas Levrat, Special Rapporteur on minority issues; Laura Nyirinkindi (Chair), Claudia Flores (Vice-Chair), Dorothy Estrada Tanck, Ivana Krstić, and Haina Lu, Working group on discrimination against women and girls; Balakrishnan Rajagopal, the Special Rapporteur on adequate housing as a component of the right to an adequate standard of living, and on the right to non-discrimination in this context; Geneviève Savigny (Chair-Rapporteur), Carlos Duarte, Uche Ewelukwa, Shalmali Guttal, Davit Hakobyan,
Scoop
2 days ago
- Scoop
Monitoring Iran And Promoting Peaceful Nuclear Use – The IAEA's Role Explained
19 June 2025 The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) dates back to 1957 and was set up in response to global fears following the first use of nuclear and atomic weapons and alarm over the advent and spread of nuclear technology. An autonomous part of the United Nations system, it works on issues as varied as food safety, cancer control and sustainable development – and also on promoting peaceful uses of nuclear energy. Another principal responsibility, perhaps less well understood, is the agency's framework of nuclear 'safeguards' agreements. These agreements are voluntarily entered into by countries and are key to preventing the spread of nuclear weapons by independently verifying whether countries are meeting their non-proliferation commitments. As of 2024, some 182 countries have safeguards agreements with the IAEA. In a June 9 address to the agency's board, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi laid out troubling findings, raising fresh concerns about Iran's compliance with global nuclear agreements. 'Iran has repeatedly either not answered' IAEA requests 'or not provided technically credible answers,' Mr. Grossi told the 35-nation board on Monday. Additionally, he said, Iran has sought to 'sanitise the locations,' which the agency has now concluded were part of a 'structured' nuclear programme in the early 2000s. 'Unless and until Iran assists the agency in resolving the outstanding safeguards issues, the Agency will not be in a position to provide assurance that Iran's nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful,' he said. Mr. Grossi expressed alarm at the rapid accumulation of over 400 kilogrammes of highly enriched uranium, which has serious implications (highly enriched uranium is one of the necessary components for the creation of a nuclear bomb). The statement to the board underlined the significant role the IAEA plays in Iran, which can be broken down into four main areas. 1. Monitoring The agency uses safeguard agreements under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a key international accord designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. The vast majority of safeguards agreements are those that have been concluded by the IAEA with non-nuclear-weapon States. However, safeguards are implemented in three States that are not party to the NPT – India, Pakistan and Israel – on the basis of item-specific agreements they have concluded with the IAEA. As a non-nuclear armed signatory to the treaty, Iran is banned from acquiring nuclear weapons and is required to allow the IAEA to inspect and verify all nuclear materials and activities, including at short notice, if asked. The agency regularly inspects Iran's nuclear facilities, including sites like Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. The aim is to ensure that nuclear materials are only used for peaceful means and are not diverted for weapons use. On 9 June, Mr. Grossi noted that man-made uranium particles had been found at three more, undeclared sites (Varamin, Marivan and Turquzabad). Iran, he said, had failed to provide 'technically credible explanations' for the presence of the particles, despite years of consultations. 2. Reporting The agency regularly reports to its Board of Governors on the nuclear activities of Iran (and other countries), using methods such as inspections, monitoring equipment, environmental sampling, and satellite imagery to gather data and prepare technical reports. In the case of countries under special scrutiny – such as Iran – these reports are typically issued every quarter. If Iran – or any non-nuclear weapon country party to the NPT – fails to comply with the IAEA's requirements (for example, by limiting access or not explaining the presence of uranium particles), the agency can report Iran to the UN Security Council, which may lead to diplomatic pressure, sanctions or calls for further negotiations. 3. Diplomatic engagement The IAEA frequently calls for diplomatic solutions and emphasises the importance of dialogue to resolve concerns about Iran's nuclear intentions. Director General Grossi has engaged directly with Iranian authorities and international stakeholders to maintain communication and transparency. Addressing the Security Council on June 13, Mr. Grossi said that his agency was in constant contact with the Iranian Nuclear Regulatory Authority to assess the status of affected facilities and determine broader impacts on nuclear safety and security. 4. Safety and security oversight This is a critical part of the IAEA's broader mission to prevent nuclear accidents, ensure that nuclear energy is used for peaceful purposes, and protect people and the environment. The IAEA works with the Iranian authorities to ensure that nuclear facilities like Natanz, Fordow, and Esfahan operate safely, by assessing the design and operation of the facilities, monitoring radiation protection measures, and evaluating emergency preparedness. After the June 2025 Israeli strikes, the IAEA confirmed that Natanz had been impacted but reported no elevated radiation levels. However, it emphasised that any military attack on nuclear facilities is a violation of international law and poses serious risks to safety and the environment.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Scoop
Commemorating World Refugee Day
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) commemorates World Refugee Day—an opportunity to recognise the courage, resilience, and contributions of refugees to New Zealand. Established by the United Nations in 2001, this year's theme, 'solidarity with refugees,' calls on us to honour refugees not just with words, but with meaningful action. This year, INZ proudly marks a significant milestone: New Zealand has reached its 2024/25 Refugee Quota Programme target, reaffirming our commitment to providing protection and opportunity to some of the world's most vulnerable people. Qemajl Murati, Head of Refugee Quota Programme, says the milestone is a testament to the strength of New Zealand's resettlement system and the collective effort behind it. 'New Zealand's refugee resettlement programme is globally unique,' says Qemajl Murati. 'At our Māngere Refugee Resettlement Centre,Te Āhuru Mōwai o Aotearoa, we provide newly arrived refugees with essential services during their first five weeks—English language classes, health and mental health support, community orientation, and tailored resettlement plans to help them thrive in their new communities.' INZ works closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to offer safe pathways through the Refugee Quota Programme. Additional support is provided through the Refugee Family Support Category and the Community Organisation Refugee Sponsorship pilot. This work is guided by New Zealand's Refugee Resettlement Strategy, which envisions former refugees and their families settling successfully, achieving their goals, and thriving in New Zealand. 'Achieving this vision wouldn't be possible without the dedication of our partners—non-government organisations, community groups, volunteers, and other government agencies,' says Qemajl Murati. 'We also acknowledge our staff, many of whom come from refugee backgrounds themselves, who work tirelessly to create a safe and welcoming environment for those starting a new life here.' Echoing this message, Karen Gulick, Acting Representative of the UNHCR Multi-Country Office for Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, adds: 'At a time of global uncertainty, with record numbers of forcibly displaced people and critical funding gaps, it's more important than ever to show solidarity with refugees. New Zealand's warm welcome and continued support for global humanitarian efforts are powerful examples of solidarity in action.' For more information on Immigration New Zealand's work to support refugees:
