UN's Atomic Energy Agency Chief Says He Cannot Verify Iran's Program is Peaceful

Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), has expressed concern about the IAEA's inability to conclude that Iran's nuclear program is intended for peaceful purposes. Speaking at the 2015 Carnegie International Nuclear Policy Conference, he warned:

"As far as the Agency's own work to implement safeguards in Iran is concerned, we continue to verify the non-diversion of nuclear material declared by Iran. But we are still not in a position to conclude that all nuclear material in Iran is in peaceful activities.

The Framework for Cooperation worked for the first few months to help improve our understanding of Iran's nuclear programme. Progress has been very limited in clarifying issues with possible military dimensions...

Two things are of special importance for the Agency.

First, with the cooperation of Iran, the Agency needs to clarify issues with possible military dimensions to the satisfaction of our Member States...

Second, Iran needs to implement the additional protocol so that the Agency can provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran."