IAEA requires more money for Iran nuclear work
August 25, 2015Yukiya Amano (pictured above), the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said Tuesday that the agency's current funds for Iran would run out by the end of September. The nuclear watchdog would need an additional $185,000 (160,000 euros) every month in the run-up to the implementation of the Iran deal, which is likely to start early next year.
Once implemented, the IAEA's work on Iran would cost about $10.6 million (9.2 million euros) annually, with the total amount estimated at $161 million (140 million euros).
So far, the UN's nuclear agency has met the costs through extra-budgetary contributions from the member states.
According to the IAEA document, initially obtained by the Associated Press, the $10.63 million annual costs "are foreseen as being applicable for 15 years," which is the planned duration to curb Iran's nuclear activities in accordance with the nuclear deal signed between the global powers and Tehran on July 14 in Vienna.
On Tuesday, the IAEA board of governors met in Vienna to discuss measures to verify Iran's nuclear program and the agency's financial situation. The US, France, Britain, Germany, Russia and China – the countries which negotiated the deal with Iran – as well as other IAEA member states like Japan, Finland, Australia, Canada, the Netherlands and New Zealand are expected to provide for extra expenditures.
shs/kms (AP, Reuters)