IAEA

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was founded in 1957 and is an autonomous organisation within the United Nations system. Its core task is the worldwide promotion of the peaceful use of nuclear energy, the increase of nuclear safety as well as the verification of States’ compliance under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) regime. The IAEA was the first UN Organisation in Vienna and is still the largest with around 2.500 employees. Since December 2019, Rafael Mariano Grossi acts as the IAEA’s Director General.

Russia’s aggression against Ukraine brought heightened nuclear risks, which directly influence the work of the IAEA. Especially the occupation of the nuclear power plant Zaporizhzhia since March of 2022 led to an increased risk of a nuclear incident or accident. An initiative by the IAEA Director General facilitates the permanent presence of IAEA staff at the site since September 2022. This allows the organisation and its member states to receive first-hand information.

The surveillance of nuclear activities and fissile materials in Iran within the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPoA), negotiated in Vienna, is another key issue for the IAEA. Since the US’ unilateral withdrawal in May 2018, Iran gradually decreased its implementation of agreed obligations lined out by the Plan. Therefore, the IAEA’s verification activities and the Director General’s quarterly report assessing the degree of Iran’s compliance and implementation of the JCPoA gained additional relevance. They are discussed in the quarterly Board of Governors’ (the IAEA’s main decision-making body) meeting.

Austria was one of the 35 members of the Board of Governors until September 2022. Next to the IAEA Headquarters at the IAEA site in Seibersdorf, there are also special laboratories for non-energetic uses of nuclear technologies. Austria is involved in their expansion.