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Straits Times
an hour ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Explainer-The limits to the UN nuclear watchdog's oversight in Iran
FILE PHOTO: The IAEA flag flutters outside their headquarters after the first day of the agency's quarterly Board of Governors meeting at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria, June 9, 2025. REUTERS/Lisa Leutner/ File Photo VIENNA - The U.N. nuclear watchdog, which polices the global nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, has not been able to carry out inspections in Iran since Israel launched military strikes on its nuclear facilities on June 13. Below is an outline of the International Atomic Energy Agency's inspection powers. DOES THE IAEA HAVE UNIVERSAL JURISDICTION? No. The IAEA's oversight is limited to the 191 states that are signatories to the NPT, and other countries it has separate arrangements with. Iran is a party to the NPT and thus subject to IAEA oversight including inspections meant to ensure that no nuclear material such as uranium is "diverted" for use in atomic bombs. Israel is not a party to the NPT and is the only country in the Middle East widely believed to have nuclear weapons. Israel does not confirm or deny having them. It has a limited safeguards agreement with the IAEA that provides for the agency to oversee some materials and facilities - a fraction of what Israel has and not any of what is widely believed to be its nuclear weapons programme. Iran, by contrast, has a Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA) with the IAEA under which it must account for all its proliferation-sensitive nuclear material, including every gram of enriched uranium. CAN THE IAEA GO ANYWHERE, ANYTIME IN IRAN? No. It is largely restricted to inspecting Iran's declared nuclear installations as provided for by its 1974 CSA - sites such as the three uranium enrichment plants at Natanz and Fordow that were operating until Israel bombed them on June 13. It had regular access to those facilities until they were attacked. Since then, they have been "closed" and inspectors have not been allowed in, the IAEA has said, adding that it hopes its inspectors will return as soon as possible. HAS THE IAEA HAD GREATER POWERS BEFORE? Yes. A 2015 deal between Iran and major powers placed strict limits on Tehran's nuclear activities but also extended the IAEA's oversight to parts of Iran's nuclear programme not covered by the CSA, such as its production and stock of centrifuges, the machines that enrich uranium. It was the most comprehensive IAEA oversight of any country. Much of that additional oversight came from Iran agreeing, as part of the 2015 pact, to apply the Additional Protocol, an add-on to countries' CSAs that the IAEA developed to strengthen its hand in preventing nuclear proliferation. Iran has signed but never ratified the Additional Protocol. One of the most important extra tools the Additional Protocol gives the IAEA is the power to carry out snap inspections - short-notice access to locations including ones that Iran has not declared to be nuclear-related. WHY DOES IT NO LONGER HAVE SUCH SWEEPING POWERS? In 2018, during his first term, President Donald Trump pulled the U.S. out of the 2015 nuclear deal, reimposing U.S. sanctions on Iran that had been lifted as part of the agreement. In retaliation, as of the following year, Iran began pushing past the deal's limits on its nuclear activities but also scaled back the extra IAEA oversight introduced by the deal. In February 2021 Iran said it would no longer carry out its extra commitments under the 2015 deal, including implementation of the Additional Protocol. It struck a deal with the IAEA to keep monitoring equipment like surveillance cameras added under the deal rolling, but ordered them all removed in June 2022. WHAT WAS LOST WITH THE EXTRA OVERSIGHT? Reducing the IAEA's oversight not only took away the important tool of snap inspections. It also left blind spots in the areas to which extra oversight had been applied. The IAEA now says it has lost so-called "continuity of knowledge" for so many years that it will never be able to fully piece together what happened in areas including the production and inventory of centrifuges and certain key centrifuge parts, as well as Iran's stock of "yellowcake" - uranium that has not been enriched. The fact many centrifuges are unaccounted for means it cannot be ruled out that they will be used to enrich uranium in secret at an undeclared facility. Such a facility would be easy to hide in a relatively small building such as a warehouse. The IAEA says it cannot guarantee Iran's nuclear activity is entirely for peaceful purposes but it also has no credible indications of a coordinated nuclear weapons programme. WHAT IF IRAN PULLS OUT OF THE NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY? Iran has threatened to pull out of the NPT, while at the same time saying it would not develop nuclear weapons if it did. Tehran has complained that the treaty and non-proliferation regime failed to protect it from attack by a country with a nuclear arsenals, the United States, and another widely believed to have one, Israel. The NPT allows for withdrawal by a party at three months' notice "if it decides that extraordinary events, related to the subject matter of this Treaty, have jeopardized the supreme interests of its country". The only country to announce its withdrawal from the NPT is North Korea in 2003, which expelled IAEA inspectors before testing nuclear weapons. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
New Indian Express
15-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Seismic miscalculation? Why Israel's strikes could end up pushing Tehran closer to the n-bomb
It needs to be called out for what it is. After decades of shadow conflict—covert strikes, cyber sabotage, proxy battles, and a near conflict last year—Israel and Iran are now at war. Israel has launched Operation Rising Lion, striking Iran's nuclear enrichment facilities, its leading nuclear scientists, top leadership of Iran's military, especially the Revolutionary Guards, military headquarters and weapons storage, ballistic missile facilities, and air defences. This marks a profound shift in the region's strategic landscape. This is a war Israel has long wanted to fight—a direct campaign to roll back a nuclear threat it sees as existential for the survival of the Jewish state of 1 crore. The trigger, perhaps, is the latest IAEA report published in May 2025. It confirmed that Iran has amassed more than 400 kg of uranium enriched to 60% U-235, plus thousands more enriched to lower levels. This stockpile is enough for up to nine nuclear weapons. The agency also reported that Iran has disabled key monitoring systems, refused access, and ceased implementing the Additional Protocol, making full verification impossible. The significantly increased production and accumulation of highly enriched uranium by Iran, the only non-nuclear-weapon State to produce such nuclear material, is of serious concern. This is the clearest nuclear breakout profile the world has seen in decades—and Israel decided it could wait no longer. Israel's strikes went beyond nuclear weapons facilities. They have killed senior IRGC commanders and nuclear engineers and targeted oil and gas infrastructure. Destruction of the program in its entirety is likely beyond reach. Iran's nuclear sites are dispersed, fortified, and in some cases buried deep underground. So Israel is doing what it can–targeting centrifuges and research centres, and eliminating the human capital behind Iran's progress. It's a strategy of degradation, disruption, and demoralisation. What sets this round of conflict apart is Israel's open psychological and political messaging. After the first wave of strikes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly addressed the Iranian people, saying, 'The time has come for the Iranian people to unite around its flag and its historic legacy, by standing up for your freedom from the evil and oppressive regime.' This is a call for uprising. While Israel officially denies that regime change is its objective, Netanyahu's words—combined with military actions targeting Iran's top command—make the message clear.
Ya Biladi
10-06-2025
- General
- Ya Biladi
Morocco achieves top IAEA assurance for peaceful nuclear use
For the first time, Morocco has received the highest level of assurance from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that its nuclear materials are used exclusively for peaceful purposes, the country's nuclear regulator announced on Tuesday. The IAEA's 2024 annual safeguards report granted Morocco an expanded conclusion, confirming the absence of undeclared nuclear activities, the Moroccan Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security (AMSSNuR) stated in a press release. This designation reflects Morocco's strong commitment to non-proliferation and follows years of IAEA inspections under its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol, ratified in 1975 and 2011 respectively. The agency conducts thorough verification of nuclear facilities, materials, and related sites to ensure compliance. AMSSNuR credited this milestone to enhanced regulatory oversight and close cooperation with the IAEA, highlighting Morocco's dedication to nuclear transparency.
Maroc
10-06-2025
- General
- Maroc
Morocco Earns Highest IAEA Nuclear Safeguards Assurance
Morocco has for the first time received the highest level of assurance from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that its nuclear materials are used solely for peaceful purposes, the country's nuclear regulator said on Tuesday. The IAEA's annual safeguards report for 2024 granted Morocco an expanded conclusion, certifying the absence of undeclared nuclear activities, the Moroccan Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security (AMSSNuR) said in a press release. The designation reflects Morocco's adherence to non-proliferation commitments and follows years of IAEA inspections under its Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and Additional Protocol, ratified in 1975 and 2011 respectively. The agency verifies nuclear facilities, materials, and related sites to ensure compliance. AMSSNuR attributed the milestone to strengthened regulatory oversight and cooperation with the IAEA, underscoring Morocco's commitment to nuclear transparency.
Morocco World
10-06-2025
- Politics
- Morocco World
Morocco's Nuclear Compliance Reaches New Heights with IAEA's Top-Level Assurance
Rabat – Morocco has obtained the highest level of assurance from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) regarding its compliance with nuclear safeguards. The announcement was made by the Moroccan Agency for Nuclear and Radiological Safety and Security (AMSSNuR) today, noting that this the first time that the country has achieved this milestone. The IAEA stated in its 2024 annual safeguards implementation report that Morocco qualifies for what is known as the 'broader conclusion.' A recognition of Morocco's consistent nuclear transparency This designation confirms that all nuclear material present in Morocco is exclusively used for peaceful purposes. The announcement marks a major milestone for the country and reflects the strength of its regulatory infrastructure, its consistent commitment to nuclear transparency, and its full adherence to international non-proliferation obligations. This recognition comes as the result of years of verification work conducted under the framework of the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and its Additional Protocol, which Morocco ratified in 1975 and 2011, respectively. IAEA's inspections cover information related to nuclear facilities and activities, including operations conducted outside traditional installations, as well as the use of nuclear materials and related technologies. AMSSNuR also noted that achieving this level of assurance is the outcome of sustained efforts by the agency and all relevant national stakeholders to uphold Morocco's international obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and safeguard agreements with the IAEA. The larger conclusion is the highest level of verification confidence conferred upon by the IAEA. It puts Morocco in a small league with other countries known globally for the transparent and peaceful use of nuclear material. In September 2024, Morocco was unanimously elected to the Board of Governors of the IAEA for the 2024-2026 term during the agency's 68th General Conference in Vienna, reflecting its growing influence in international forums. Established in 1957 under the United Nations, the IAEA is responsible for promoting the peaceful use of nuclear energy and preventing its military misuse. Morocco's achievement of the highest level of verification confidence by the IAEA places it among a select group of countries recognized globally for their transparent and peaceful handling of nuclear material. Tags: IAEAMoroccoMorocco nuclearnuclear
