VIENNA, 11 June. - (ANA) - The head of the UN atomic watchdog agency expressed his concern on Monday over “increasing tensions” surrounding the Iranian nuclear issue.

 

On 8 May, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council issued an order to stop some of the measures agreed under the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal reached by Iran, China France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

 

Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, told a regular board of governors meeting that the agreement was still “a significant gain for nuclear verification”, and as such, hoped “that ways can be found to reduce current tensions through dialogue”. It is essential that Iran fully implements its nuclear-related commitments under the nuclear deal, said the IAEA chief.

 

On North Korea, he said that using open source information and satellite imagery the Agency also continues to monitor the country’s nuclear programme. Mr. Amano assured IAEA’s readiness “to play an essential role” in verifying denuclearization if a political agreement among the countries concerned is reached. He called on the country “to comply fully with its obligations under Security Council resolutions”.

 

AB/ANA/11 June 2019 - - -