IAEA head asks for extra $5.7mln to monitor Iran nuke deal

PanARMENIAN.Net - The head of the UN atomic agency asked member states on Thursday, Dec 11, for 4.6 million euros ($5.7 million) in extra funding as soon as possible to help pay for its monitoring of an extended nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, Reuters reports.

The European Union, which includes three of the powers involved in the diplomacy with Iran, said it was "prepared to consider sympathetically the resource needs" of the UN watchdog, without specifying any contributions.

Iran and the United States, France, Germany, Britain, China and Russia failed last month to meet a self-imposed deadline to end a 12-year dispute over Tehran's nuclear program, giving themselves seven more months for negotiations.

As a result, an interim deal reached last year will remain in force. The IAEA, which has inspectors on the ground, is checking that Iran lives up to its commitments under that accord to halt its most sensitive nuclear work in exchange for some easing of sanctions.

Yukiya Amano, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, told the IAEA's 35-nation governing board about the need for voluntary budget contributions.

"I invite member states which are in a position to do so to make the necessary funding available as soon as possible in order to ensure smooth continuation of our activities," he said at the closed-door session, according to an IAEA statement.

Because of the deal's political importance, diplomats have said there should be no problem raising the required funds.

The EU voiced its continued support for the IAEA's work.

Iran denies Western allegations it has been seeking to develop the capability to make nuclear weapons. But its refusal to scale back its uranium enrichment program has drawn international sanctions.

IAEA inspectors visit Iran's enrichment facilities of Natanz and Fordow daily, compared to about once a week before. It has also procured specialized equipment for its analytical work.

Saying the IAEA's workload had "greatly increased", Amano added that many staff "working on this matter will give up their Christmas and New Year holidays this year".

The agreement was initially due to run for six months from January but first extended in July and again in November.

The IAEA accepted contributions totaling 6.5 million euros in January and July to cover its extra Iran-related costs.