IAEA nuclear facilities oversight

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the U.N. nuclear watchdog responsible for policing the global nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), has been unable to carry out inspections in Iran since Israel’s military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities on June 13.

Key Highlights

• IAEA Safeguards:
  • Are legally binding agreements that States conclude with the Agency, in line with the IAEA’s Statute.
  • The vast majority are Comprehensive Safeguards Agreements (CSAs), concluded with non-nuclear-weapon States parties to the NPT and nuclear-weapon-free zone treaties.
  • As of May 3, 2023, the IAEA had concluded CSAs with 182 States.
• IAEA’s Oversight Scope:
  • Primarily limited to the 191 states that are signatories to the NPT, and other countries with which it has separate arrangements.
• Iran and IAEA Oversight:
  • Iran is a party to the NPT and has been a signatory since 1970.
  • It is therefore subject to IAEA oversight, including inspections designed to ensure that no nuclear material (like uranium) is “diverted” for use in atomic bombs.
  • The IAEA’s oversight in Iran is largely restricted to inspecting its declared nuclear installations as provided for by its 1974 CSA.
  • These include sites like the three uranium enrichment plants at Natanz and Fordow, which were operating until Israel bombed them on June 13.
  • Current Status: The IAEA has not been able to carry out inspections in Iran since the Israeli strikes.
• Israel and IAEA Safeguards:
  • Israel is not a party to the NPT.
  • It is the only country in the Middle East widely believed to have nuclear weapons, though it neither confirms nor denies this officially.
  • Israel has a limited safeguards agreement with the IAEA, which allows the agency to oversee some materials and facilities – a fraction of what Israel possesses and none of what is widely believed to be its nuclear weapons program.
• Non-NPT States with Safeguards:
  • Safeguards are implemented in three States that are not party to the NPT – India, Pakistan, and Israel.
  • This is done on the basis of item-specific agreements they have concluded with the IAEA.
  • Under these agreements, the IAEA ensures that specified nuclear material, facilities, and other items are not used for manufacturing nuclear weapons or any military purpose, and are used exclusively for peaceful purposes.

• Five nuclear-weapon States safeguards
  • The five nuclear-weapon States parties to the NPT have concluded voluntary offer safeguards agreements.
  • Under voluntary safeguards, the IAEA applies safeguards to nuclear material in facilities that the State has voluntarily offered and the IAEA has selected for the application of safeguards.