The IAEA Director General has briefed the Board of Governors on his high-level meetings in Tehran last week, describing his discussions with the new government as constructive. Nevertheless, he pointed out, there were ongoing concerns.
"It is clear that the accumulation of enriched uranium at very high levels has been a matter of concern for many around the world. And this is why I requested the Islamic Republic of Iran to exercise restraint. Not only to exercise restraint, but also if possible, to stop increasing the stockpile of sixty percent uranium. And this request of mine was accepted by Iran."
Rafael Mariano Grossi went on to discuss how this was an initial step, and a lot more needed to be done. He said: "It is the duty of the IAEA to preserve the regime of which we are the custodians - the non-proliferation regime. And this has been at the heart of this important effort."
Support to Ukrainian nuclear power plants
Mr Grossi also discussed the IAEA's support to nuclear facilities in Ukraine, with the war this week passing its one-thousandth day.
"We have enlarged our cooperation and collaboration, extending our activities to critical electrical infrastructure, which is related to the nuclear power plants. We are also expanding to medical support to nuclear facilities."
A total of 155 missions comprising 157 Agency staff members have been deployed at the five Ukrainian nuclear power plant sites so far. And a total of 67 deliveries have ensured that nuclear safety and security equipment worth €12 million has reached Ukraine.
Japan's ongoing ALPS-treated water release
The release of ALPS-treated water remains another key topic for the board. Since it began in August last year, Japan has discharged into the sea 10 batches of ALPS-treated water - 79 000 cubic meters - from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station.
The Director General confirmed that the tritium concentrations in the discharged batches have been far below operational limits and in line with international safety standards.
He explained how the Agency has been working to ensure the monitoring process engages Japan's neighbours: "Today I also want to mention how constructively we have been working with the government of Japan and with the government of China so that we could add some additional monitoring measures in order to address some of the concerns that you had been listening to over the past few months. These additional measures have started being implemented also with the constructive participation of the Republic of Korea and other stakeholders."
COP29 climate conference
Mr Grossi spoke of his visit to Azerbaijan last week, to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29).
"For the Agency, it was … yet another opportunity to confirm the place and the relevance of nuclear energy in the current energy debates and the fact that nuclear is part of the solution to these very important problems," he said.
At COP29, the IAEA signed agreements with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), LinkedIn and IRENA, strengthening its collaboration with a range of stakeholders, including in the renewable energy sphere and capacity building.
IAEA flagship initiatives and the ministerial conference
Speaking of the IAEA's work in both mitigating and adapting to climate change, Mr Grossi highlighted the IAEA's flagship initiatives, and its technical cooperation programme, which was the focus of the Technical Assistance and Cooperation Committee (TACC) meeting earlier this week.
"Through our flagship projects, we are becoming a really transformative force," he told the Board.
The IAEA's Atoms4Food, NUTEC Plastics, ZODIAC and Rays of Hope: Cancer Care for All initiatives will also be in the spotlight at the upcoming 2024 Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications and the Technical Cooperation Programme in Vienna next week.
Energy, research and fusion conferences
As well as looking ahead to the ministerial conference, Mr Grossi looked back at the IAEA's recent International Conference on Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), which he called a "resounding success". He mentioned the IAEA's recent conference on research reactors, describing these reactors as "incredibly important" for all countries, due to their use in research, materials testing and radioisotope production.
Mr Grossi also updated the Board on his recent trip to Rome, for the Inaugural Ministerial Meeting of the IAEA World Fusion Energy Group, which was hosted by the IAEA and Italy. The Director General explained that fusion energy has moved from being a distant dream to being within reach.
