IAEA governors mull Middle East non-proliferation

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors is to discuss several countries' commitments to guarantees pledged to the international body, making the Middle East a region free of nuclear weapons, and give focus to the ramifications and implementation of the Iran-P5+1 agreement, as well as the report presented to the governors by IAEA Director-General Yukiya Amano. The governors would particularly look into state of affairs in view of the developments on the Iranian nuclear dossier. In a report in mid-November, Amano said Iran stopped developments initiated earlier and did not install any new component at its Arak reactor since Hassan Rouhani took over as president in August. Amano described the Iran-P5+1 deal as "an important step forward." The Amano reports stated that issues not covered or settled in the recently sealed agreement would be addressed at a later stage. The IAEA chief's report was issued the same week Iran agreed to allow IAEA inspectors access to two nuclear facilities as part of the agreement with the P5+1. Announcing that the next meeting between IAEA and Iranian officials is set for December 11, Amano had also hinted it is possible remaining issues could be resolved within a matter of months. The Iranian side's slowing down of its uranium enrichment activity recently, he noted, paves the way for inspectors to assess nuclear sites where there is suspicion of military-related activity and address international community concerns in this regard