First Special Meeting of the Board of Governors After the Implementation of the JCPOA

The Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is set to discuss the monitoring and verification of Iran's nuclear program under UN Security Council Resolution 2231 in a special meeting on Tuesday. This is the first meeting of the Board after the lifting of Iran's nuclear sanctions. A press release regarding the special meeting noted that it will be held behind closed doors on Saturday morning Central European Time, and Yukiya Amano, the Director General of the IAEA, is expected to speak to reporters after the meeting. On Sunday morning, Amano confirmed Iran's compliance with its commitments under the JCPOA in a statement that paved the way for the lifting of nuclear sanctions and mentioned that he had sent a copy of his confirmation report to the IAEA Board and the UN Security Council. He spoke of a new phase in relations between Iran and the IAEA and traveled to Tehran on Sunday night for meetings with Iranian officials on Monday. The meeting on Monday between Yukiya Amano and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani conveyed a message from both sides: the continuation and expansion of cooperation. Rouhani asked the IAEA to be active not only in monitoring activities but also in fulfilling its legal responsibilities, especially regarding the transfer of advanced peaceful nuclear technology and the security of nuclear technologies. According to IRNA, he also requested that the agency treat all members equally in the transfer of advanced peaceful nuclear technology. Rouhani emphasized that Iran would continue its cooperation with the IAEA and remain committed to its JCPOA obligations as long as the other party fulfills its commitments. In response, Amano stated that the IAEA would adopt a "legal, impartial, and non-political" approach in implementing the JCPOA. The IAEA Director General also expressed interest in expanding cooperation with Tehran to build more trust. Before meeting with Rouhani, Amano had a meeting with Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, which he described as "constructive and positive." He emphasized that significant efforts had brought both sides to this point of cooperation, and similar efforts would be necessary for future collaborations. After this meeting, Salehi mentioned that they had discussed future cooperation with Amano and had "almost" outlined a roadmap for collaboration in the new environment. Salehi also noted that Iran had "missed opportunities" in the nuclear field over the past 12 years and therefore requested that the IAEA take "technical actions to compensate for these missed opportunities."