IAEA Chief Ready to Verify Any U.S.-Iran Nuclear Deal

By Oh Seok-min

VIENNA, June 14 (Yonhap) -- The chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said the agency stands ready to verify any nuclear agreement between the United States and Iran, stressing that monitoring and verification would be central to its role if such a deal is reached.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday (U.S. time) that a peace agreement with Iran was in "pretty final shape" and could be signed in Europe within the week, adding that he understood Iran's top leader had approved the deal.

"The most important thing about the agency is verification, and the fact that we are going to be part of the resolution is a very important formality that needs to be there," IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi said during a meeting with reporters on the sidelines of a seminar organized by the agency for journalists from global news outlets, including Yonhap News Agency.

"When they agree on something and they ask us to do the verification, I have to go to my board ... to ask them for permission to do that," he added.

Grossi also suggested that any such agreement would likely require comprehensive monitoring measures.

"The agreement will be comprehensive if there is one, and we will have to look at everything in it," he said.

Asked about the need for a more robust mandate for the agency amid mounting global challenges, Grossi said its mission is already evolving amid the Russia-Ukraine war, the Middle East conflict and other global issues.

"The reality today is that if you want to have a nuclear power plant and you don't have peer reviews and safety checks by the IAEA, there is no confidence," he said. "People will tend to trust the IAEA more than national governments."

As geopolitical tensions continue to challenge international cooperation, Grossi argued that preserving the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and maintaining effective multilateral institutions remain essential for global security and nuclear non-proliferation efforts.

"My take might be a bit provocative, but it would be to say that the success of the NPT is not defined by the absence of a final statement," he said. "A review conference is always easy prey to the issues of the time."

In May, the NPT parties concluded a weekslong review conference in New York without agreeing on a consensus outcome document, marking the third consecutive conference that ended without such an agreement amid disputes over Iran, North Korea and other issues.

"The NPT is far from being perfect, but it is a relatively successful treaty," Grossi said. "At times of enormous uncertainty, it is a solid piece of international law that should be protected."

Grossi noted that more countries are considering or revisiting nuclear power as they seek reliable and low-carbon energy sources, citing European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's recent remarks that Europe's decision to move away from nuclear energy had been a "strategic mistake."

"There is no longer a political ideological opposition to it," Grossi said, stressing the importance of the IAEA's role in providing technical expertise, independent assessments and safety reviews for countries pursuing nuclear energy programs.

Asked about his chances of becoming the next U.N. secretary-general, Grossi noted his experience leading the IAEA and the challenges facing the multilateral system, while declining to comment on the ongoing selection process.

"I think we need multilateralism more than ever. The only difference is that a multilateralism that works doesn't seem to be the case at the moment, too much, with some exceptions," he said.

Grossi is scheduled to visit South Korea's southern island of Jeju later this month, along with other candidates for the next U.N. chief, to present his vision at the 21st Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity, Seoul's foreign ministry said.