IAEA adopts final assessment on Iranian nuclear program

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board of governors has adopted a resolution on director general Yukiya Amano's final assessment report on possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear program, which found no credible indications of any nuclear weapons development in the country after 2009.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board of governors yesterday adopted a resolution on director general Yukiya Amano's final assessment report on possible military dimensions (PMDs) to Iran's nuclear program, which found no credible indications of any nuclear weapons development in the country after 2009.

Yukiya Amano addresses the IAEA board meeting (Image: Dean Calma/IAEA)

Amano presented the findings of his report, Final Assessment on Past and Present Outstanding Issues regarding Iran's Nuclear Programme, to a meeting of the board of governors convened specifically to consider its findings. The report is the result of IAEA efforts to clarify issues with PMDs to Iran's nuclear program, and was prepared in response to 12 areas of concern Amano reported to the board in November 2011.

In his introductory statement to the board, Amano said that the final assessment gave "clear answers" to two "very important" questions: "Did Iran engage in activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device? And, if it did, is it still doing so?"

The IAEA assessment found that a "range of activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device" had been conducted in Iran prior to the end of 2003 as a coordinated effort, and that some activities had taken place after 2003. However, Amano also said that such activities "did not advance beyond feasibility and scientific studies, and the acquisition of certain relevant technical competences and capabilities". The IAEA had "no credible indications of activities in Iran relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device after 2009".

No credible indications of the diversion of nuclear material in connection with the possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear programme had been found.

The IAEA and Iran agreed a "road-map" of activities to be undertaken by the agency in order to clarify issues relating to PMDs in Iran's nuclear program by the end of the 2015. The report was the IAEA's final step under the "road-map". Amano said that the assessment was "factual, technically sound and balanced".

Next steps

Amano said the necessary preparations would be made for the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JPCOA), an international agreement limiting Iran's nuclear program in return for the lifting of economic sanctions. The agreement was signed in July by Iran and the E3/EU+3 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the UK and the USA plus the European Union) and adopted in October.

The question of how the IAEA's additional activities in Iran under the JCPOA must also be addressed, Amano told the board. The IAEA's annual expenditure related to the implementation of the plan is estimated at €9.2 million ($10 million).

The board called on Iran "to cooperate fully and in a timely manner" to implement its comprehensive safeguards agreement and an additional protocol that gives the IAEA expanded access to materials and sites beyond declared nuclear facilities. It agreed that it will terminate previous resolutions in connection with Iran's nuclear program, on receipt of an IAEA report verifying that Iran has taken all actions specified in the JCPOA. This would allow Iran to participate in IAEA technical cooperation activities.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News