Amano: Inspections of Iran Could Face Challenges if the U.S. Does Not Provide Funding

Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), stated that if the U.S. and other countries do not provide financial resources for the organization, there will not be enough funds for inspections of Iran's nuclear activities. Amano, who recently met with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, emphasized that he drew attention to the budget shortfall of the agency during this visit. According to Amano, the IAEA will need 2.1% more funding in 2018, amounting to $400 million. He stressed that even if the current U.S. administration continues to cover 25% of the agency's costs as before, which is still uncertain, the organization will still require 2.1% more funding. The Trump administration has proposed cutting one-third of the U.S. State Department's budget: if this budget is reduced, funding for many UN-affiliated organizations will be severely cut or completely eliminated. According to the Associated Press, both Democrats and Republicans in Congress have strongly opposed the Trump administration's plan and Washington may at least cover some of the costs. Amano further stated that during meetings with U.S. State Department officials and congressional representatives, he emphasized the necessity of securing funding for the inspections outlined in the nuclear agreement with Iran. He mentioned feeling empathy during discussions with American lawmakers. Regarding his meeting with Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, he said, 'He listened to me, but it's too early for him to give us a sign.' The cost of inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities is estimated to be around $9.9 million; more than half of this cost is covered by the regular budget of the IAEA. The U.S. and some countries have voluntarily provided funds to the IAEA. Amano stated that inspectors should not be dependent on the funding of a specific country as it may conflict with their duties. Donald Trump, in his latest position on the nuclear agreement during a meeting with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, said that no one knows why Barack Obama signed the nuclear deal with Iran. The U.S. President referred to the JCPOA as the 'worst' deal he has ever seen and had previously promised during his election campaign to withdraw from this agreement. However, despite these positions, no specific action has been observed from the U.S. government to abandon this agreement. In March, the Trump administration announced that it would issue a license for the sale of passenger planes to Iran. In this context, the agency reported that Iran's enriched uranium reserves are below the permissible limit in the nuclear agreement. Amano stated that the agency has requested information and access to certain facilities in Iran. The agency's board supported Yukiya Amano's presidency for a third term. Zarif stated that if the U.S. violates its commitments, we can return to the pre-JCPOA conditions.