International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)

Subject: International agencies

Context: Iran asked UN’s nuclear watchdog to stop publishing unnecessary details about its nuclear program.

Concept:

Post-USA’s withdrawal from Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action as part of Iran and P5+1 (EU)’s nuclear deal framework Iran has been pushing for protection of deal or it will restart its nuclear program for uranium enrichment.
This has made world’s effort for nuclear proliferation weak.
Iran has been complaining of UN watchdog IAEA revealing unnecessary details which it got access to as part of deal and is leading to unnecessary misunderstanding.

About IAEA:

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an UN agency is the world’s central intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical co-operation in the nuclear field.
It works for the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology, contributing to international peace and security and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
It was formed in 1957 as a result of Conference on the Statute of the International Atomic Energy Agency held at the UN headquarters. Initially it was known as ‘Atoms for peace’.
It is headquartered in Vienna, Austria.
It has 171 members (Sain Lucia being most recent member).
Though it is and independent international agencies, yet, it reports annually to UNGA.
It along with its Director General won Nobel Peace prize in 2005.
The IAEA’s policy-making bodies decide on the Agency’s programmes and budgets. They comprise the General Conference of all Member States and the 35-member Board of Governors.

The IAEA’s three main areas of work are:

Funding of IAEA:

The IAEA carries out its work in two main areas: the regular programme and the Technical Cooperation programme. These two programmes are financed from separate funds.
They are additionally supported by extra-budgetary contributions from Member States and non-member states donors. The IAEA’s budget is approved annually by the IAEA General Conference.