IAEA asks for donations to inspect Iran’s n-plan

Vienna, Jan 24 (IANS) Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano Friday called for donations to intensify inspection of Iran’s nuclear programme.

Amano said his agency needed extra-budgetary contributions of some 5.5 million euros ($7.5 million) for the purpose, Xinhua reported.

“I call upon countries which are in a position to do so to make the necessary funding available,” Amano told an IAEA board meeting.

The Vienna-based UN nuclear watchdog needs around 6 million euros ($8.2 million) in total to enhance the monitoring and verification of Iran’s nuclear-related programmes, a task set out in a Joint Plan of Action agreed upon by Iran and six world powers — the US, Britain, France, China and Russia, and Germany — to ensure a peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear development plan.

On Monday, the IAEA confirmed that Iran had ceased uranium enrichment above five percent at the Natanz and Fordo facilities, according to a confidential report by its inspectors.

The IAEA plans to double the staff devoted to verification in Iran.