Establishment of the 'Agency Safeguards Verification Office' for Iran

Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), announced the establishment of a new office titled 'Agency Safeguards Verification Office' specifically for Iran within the agency's safeguards framework. According to a press release issued by Amano on Monday, March 6, this office has been operational since March 1. Amano also stated that the Islamic Republic of Iran must adhere to its nuclear commitments in the coming years, emphasizing that Tehran's current actions under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) are merely 'initial steps.' As reported by the Associated Press on Monday, Amano made these remarks at the beginning of the IAEA Board of Governors meeting. Part of the Director General's report focused on monitoring and verifying Iran's nuclear program. Amano noted that the nuclear agreement between Iran and the West would last for over a decade, and Tehran must continue to fulfill its commitments under the JCPOA in the years ahead. He also stated in a press release that the agency has found 'no indications of diversion of declared nuclear materials in Iran.' The statement mentioned that the Islamic Republic has been implementing the Additional Protocol since January 15. Under Resolution 2231, the agency has invited the Islamic Republic to participate in programs related to nuclear cooperation. Some of these programs include various conferences and training courses. The IAEA reported on March 26 that Iran has complied with its commitments under the JCPOA. According to this report, the Islamic Republic has not continued construction at the Arak heavy water research reactor, has not enriched uranium beyond the allowed limit, and its stock of enriched uranium has not exceeded the specified threshold. Reuters reported that under the nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers, the Islamic Republic can maintain a maximum of 130 tons of heavy water as reserves, but its heavy water stock has been nearly one ton above the allowed limit for some time. Under the nuclear agreement, the Islamic Republic has agreed to significantly reduce the scope and scale of its nuclear program. In return, unprecedented sanctions imposed on various banking, oil, and economic sectors of Iran in the international community have been lifted or suspended. In this context, Amano told Radio Free Europe: 'The important thing is Iran and the 5+1's commitment to implementing the JCPOA.'