(As prepared for delivery)
Madam Chairperson
The consideration of Iran’s nuclear program has remained at the centre of our efforts in the past few weeks, especially after the attacks that took place in June.?
As you will recall, I referred to them orally and in detail, both here in this Board room and at the United Nations Security Council, as well as in my reports to the Board, which include substantial details about them.?
I have continuously and systematically reached out to Iran in order to address the concerns expressed by them and sought?ways to restore the indispensable cooperation between the Agency and Iran.?
We have attentively followed the most recent developments in Tehran, in particular the Parliament of Iran’s adoption on 25 June of a law suspending cooperation with the Agency, which was approved by the President of Iran on 2 July.?
In my dialogue with Iran, I have expressed my readiness to take into account this development while recalling that, while national law may create obligations domestically, it cannot do so for the IAEA.
In this regard, Iran’s NPT Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement (CSA) (INFCIRC/214)?remains in force and is the sole legally binding treaty governing the rights and obligations of the Agency and Iran with respect to safeguards implementation in Iran.
Therefore, the Agency’s safeguards measures continue to apply in Iran as in every other country with a comprehensive safeguards agreement.
Notwithstanding, I recognise the current circumstances and have expressed the Agency’s readiness to consider Iran’s concerns and suggestions insofar as these would be compatible with the CSA.?
And it is precisely this we have been discussing for the past weeks in a series of technical discussions in Tehran and in Vienna aimed at reaching agreement on the practical steps that will be applied to conduct verification activities in Iran pursuant to the CSA.
Progress has been made. It is my sincere hope that within the next few days it will be possible to come to a successful conclusion of these discussions in order to facilitate the resumption of our indispensable work with Iran.
I am confident that with these practical steps in place, other important diplomatic consultations and processes will find a promising ground upon which to advance towards positive outcomes.?
The full implementation of the rights and obligations of the Agency and Iran under Iran’s NPT Safeguards Agreement is indispensable to paving the way towards real improvement in the overall situation.?
There is still time, not much, but always enough when there is good faith and a clear sense of responsibility.
Madam Chairperson,
Three years ago, the IAEA took a historic step when we decided, in the midst of a war that risked the safety of many nuclear power plants, that the correct thing to do was to act and not just talk.
On 1 September 2022, I travelled across the front lines with a team of IAEA experts to deploy the first ISAMZ?team to Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP). Since then, the IAEA has provided the international community updates on the situation in ZNPP, some weeks, almost daily. Our teams have provided objective, impartial, and indispensable engagement at the plant in regard to the Seven Indispensable Pillars of Nuclear Safety and Security, and the Five Concrete Principles for Protecting Zaporizhzhya NPP. The IAEA is now present at all the nuclear power plants, including the Chornobyl site, in Ukraine. We have deployed 217 missions involving 176 staff.
Today, I want to thank all those who, to this day, make this unique effort possible, starting with our courageous and dedicated staff and, beyond the Agency, also those who, despite their differing positions, have understood that allowing the IAEA to carry out its mission helps bring safety and security for all. Our work in Ukraine continues to be indispensable.
The safety situation at the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant remains precarious, with six of the Seven Pillars compromised. Only one off-site power line remains, posing serious safety risks. All six reactors are in cold shutdown and no reactor can safely be started under current conditions. The cooling pond level has dropped to 13.4m, nearing the 12.0m threshold below which cooling systems fail. Measures to isolate the inlet channel offer short-term relief, but a long-term solution, such as a pumping station, is needed. Ongoing military activity, including attacks very close to the ZNPP site, are deeply concerning, adding stress and risk.
At the Chornobyl site, three of the Seven Pillars remain compromised following February’s drone strike on the New Safe Confinement (NSC). To avoid further degradation over the winter months, temporary repairs are planned for autumn, pending approval and funding. At the Ukraine Recovery Conference, held in Rome at the beginning of July, I signed an MOU with Ukraine to support identifying, designing, implementing, and testing the necessary repair activities?on the NSC?through safety review missions?and technical support,?in close coordination with Ukrainian authorities. The Agency has increased monitoring and will conduct a safety review as work progresses.
Despite challenges caused by the military conflict, the Khmelnytskyy, Rivne and South Ukraine NPPs continue to operate, supplying electricity to the national grid. Agency staff at all nuclear sites in Ukraine have regularly experienced air raid alarms.
The ongoing degradation of the electrical grid, including its crucial substations, increases the risk to safe operation of the plants, compromising pillar four of the Seven Pillars.
Amid these challenges, the Agency continues to prioritize equipment delivery to support nuclear safety and security in Ukraine through contributions by 30 donor states and the EU.
More than 150 shipments, including of nuclear safety gear, medical supplies, and isotopic-technique equipment, have been made, totalling more than €19.4 million. Dosimetry tools and PCR cyclers were sent to areas affected by the destruction of the Kakhovka dam and remote mental health workshops were held for Nuclear Power Plant psychologists.
I ask those who can, to support our essential efforts. Some €22 million in funding is still needed so that we are able to maintain programme operations through 2026.
Madam Chairperson,
Here in Vienna, we are preparing for the 69th regular session of the General Conference, which is taking place from the 15th to the 19th of this month. ?During the Treaty event scheduled for Wednesday 17 September, I will receive instruments of adherence to treaties for which I, as Director General, serve as depositary. I encourage all Member States to consider making use of this opportunity to contribute to the universalization of these important legal instruments.
The Scientific Forum, taking place on 16 to 17 September, has as its theme Atoms for Water. The forum will showcase innovative ways of using nuclear science to better understand the origin, amount, distribution and quality of our shared water resources and also how the sciences can support effective and sustainable management of the world’s water systems.
Across the world, the Agency continued to make its positive contribution supporting the priorities of its Member States. Since the last time the Board of Governors met in June, the Agency has made significant progress across its flagship initiatives, advancing nuclear technologies to address global challenges in health, food security, environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
The first two assessment missions of the IAEA/FAO Atoms4Food initiative covered Burkina Faso and Pakistan, identifying country-specific needs and opportunities where nuclear science and technology can enhance food security.
Our scientists are pioneering the use of advanced technologies in food and agriculture, using machine learning to improve outcomes and reduce costs for Member States. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning tools have been used to improve food safety and detect fraud, outperforming traditional models predicting rice origin, to give just one example.
Atoms4Food has secured €10.7 million from seven donor countries to support research and development in livestock, food safety, pest control, crop development, climate-smart agriculture, and microplastics. Regional technical cooperation projects contribute an additional €24.19 million across all regions.
Under Rays of Hope, progress continues in expanding radiotherapy access:?Malawi?opened its first public centre in July, and?Kenya?is advancing decentralised cancer care.
We held a very successful Rays of Hope Forum in Addis Ababa, hosted by Ethiopia. Attendees, including Ministers of Health from six African countries, donor Ambassadors, and representatives from beneficiary countries, Anchor Centres, the private sector, and financial institutions, reaffirmed the cancer patients around the world are being given better access to life-saving care thanks to support from the IAEA’s Rays of Hope initiative.
Support for Rays of Hope, reaffirmed at the Forum, remains essential. Since its launch in February 2022, the initiative has received more than?€90 million?in contributions.
During the Forum, the IAEA signed a?$4.5 million, three-year partnership?with?St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital?to improve paediatric radiotherapy and childhood cancer care.?Varian, a specialist in oncology care,?also contributed a LINAC machine in kind. We also launched a new nuclear medicine service at Black Lion Hospital - one of four radiotherapy centres in Ethiopia that are supported by the IAEA.
The?ICARO-4 Conference?in June brought together experts from 114 countries to enhance cancer treatment techniques through five workshops and 13 sessions. Specialists from 19 countries were trained to audit and improve diagnostic radiology in Africa.
IAEA-led research involving 23 countries confirmed that?AI can safely improve radiotherapy planning, and a new project will explore AI’s role in more complex treatment steps. Meanwhile, we are advancing cancer care while reducing radioactive waste, with disused sealed Radium-226 sources being repurposed into Actinium-225, a key isotope for targeted alpha therapy in cancer treatment. Since its launch in 2021, more than 80 Member States have joined the effort.
Through NUTEC Plastics, Member States, including Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia, are piloting radiation-based recycling. The Global Monitoring Network has grown to 99 countries and 104 labs tackling marine microplastic pollution and the corresponding platform now includes 63 countries with harmonized data standards. Standardized marine monitoring protocols are being developed globally and in July a new microplastics lab was inaugurated in the Galapagos Islands. As with so many of our initiatives, strategic partnerships and donor support are accelerating the progress of NUTEC Plastics. Several countries recently signed Memoranda of Understanding with private partners to advance radiation-assisted plastic upcycling technologies and planning is underway for our International High-Level Forum happening in Manila this November.
More and more pathogens, many potentially devastating, are being characterized by our Zoonotic Disease Integrated Action (ZODIAC) initiative and the iVetNet platform now tracks data from 2 452 institutions. A regional Asia and the Pacific project involving nine institutions from five Member States and four technical partners from Asia and Europe is supporting outbreak prevention and surveillance, while a donation by Japan launched a Coordinated Research Project (CRP) in Africa for technology transfer. In Cambodia, VETLAB–ZODIAC training has enhanced field diagnostics and zoonotic disease detection.
The IAEA’s technical cooperation programme is supporting 151 Member States through more than 1 000 projects, with the main areas of work in 2024 being health and nutrition, food and agriculture, and safety. Contributions to the TC Fund, the main source of funding for the TC programme, are essential to ensure sufficient, assured and predictable resources. The TCF Rate of Attainment, as of 29 August, was 69.6%, representing €68.2 million. I thank Member States and ask that they pay their contributions on time and in full so that we can continue this indispensable work and fulfil our mandate.
The modernization of our unique Nuclear Applications Laboratories in Seibersdorf is in its final phase. Construction is complete, laboratory operations are transitioning, and all labs are expected to be fully operational by year-end. During the GC, we will unveil the IAEA Visitor Centre, with its museum-quality interactive displays telling the story of the Agency’s work in highly engaging ways. ?
Madam Chairperson,
I referred to our ongoing communications with Iran in the beginning of this declaration.
You have before you my quarterly reports on the NPT Safeguards Agreement with the Islamic Republic of Iran and Verification and monitoring in the Islamic Republic of Iran in light of United Nations Security Council resolution 2231 (2015).
As I mentioned at the start of my remarks, on 13 June 2025, I reported to the Board of Governors and to the United Nations Security Council that the Agency had been informed of a military operation launched by Israel, which included attacks on several of Iran’s nuclear facilities. Subsequently, the United States of America also participated in these attacks, which lasted until 24 June 2025.
Consequently, the Agency stopped conducting verification activities in Iran. By the end of June 2025, I had decided to withdraw all our inspectors from Iran because of safety concerns arising from the military attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities and in light of the overall security situation.
Following the attacks, on 2?July 2025, the President of Iran approved a law suspending cooperation with the Agency, which had earlier been adopted by the Parliament of Iran.
Since 13 June, the Agency has not received nuclear material accountancy reports and updated design information questionnaires and has not had access to any safeguarded nuclear facilities in Iran, with the exception of the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, which we inspected a few days ago.
Since the attacks ceased, I have indicated the importance of re-establishing normal collaboration between Iran and the Agency in order to ensure compliance with the NPT Safeguards Agreement. Since 11 August, as noted earlier, we have conducted technical discussions with senior Iranian officials on practical steps aimed at resuming the full implementation of safeguards in Iran.
The Agency has indicated its readiness to discuss updated safeguards approaches for facilities under safeguards in Iran to take into account Iran’s security concerns, provided that such approaches remain consistent with the rights and obligations of Iran and the Agency under Iran’s NPT Safeguards Agreement.?
I am particularly concerned that the Agency has not had access to verify Iran’s high enriched uranium for almost three months, which means that its verification – according to Agency standard safeguards practice – is overdue.
Without the resumption of the full implementation of safeguards in Iran, the Agency will not be in a position to provide any conclusion or assurance regarding Iran’s nuclear programme.??In that context, technical modalities to enable the full resumption of Agency inspections should be concluded without delay. I continue to believe agreement on such modalities is possible.
The number of States with safeguards agreements in force remains 191, and 144 of these States have additional protocols in force. I look forward to the remaining three States Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons without comprehensive safeguards agreements bringing such agreements into force without delay. I also encourage States that have not yet concluded additional protocols to do so as soon as possible. I reiterate my repeated calls for the remaining 13 States with SQPs based on the original standard text to amend or rescind them as soon as possible. I am pleased to say that since the last Board meeting in June, Grenada has informed me of its decision to amend its original Small Quantities Protocol.
I will carry on my efforts to strengthen the indispensable legal framework on which the continued peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology rest.
The IAEA continues to monitor the nuclear programme of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
The Agency has observed that the 5MW(e) reactor at Yongbyon likely continues to operate in its seventh cycle. Since late January 2025 indicators have been observed at the Radiochemical Laboratory consistent with reprocessing of irradiated fuel from the reactor’s sixth operating cycle. These indicators include an almost continuous operation of the steam plant serving the laboratory.
The operation of enrichment facilities at Kangson and Yongbyon are of serious concern.
In addition, the Agency is monitoring the construction of a new building at Yongbyon which has dimensions and features similar to the Kangson enrichment plant.
There are indications that the light water reactor (LWR) at Yongbyon continued in stable operation, except for a one-month shutdown observed in April?2025. Previously reported additions to the support infrastructure adjacent to the LWR have been completed.
There were no indications of significant changes at the Nuclear Test Site at Punggye-ri, which remains prepared to support a nuclear test.
The continuation and further development of the DPRK’s nuclear programme are clear violations of relevant UN Security Council resolutions and are deeply regrettable. The Agency continues to maintain its enhanced readiness to play its essential role in verifying the DPRK’s nuclear programme.
In June I reported that I had met His Excellency Mr Ahmed Al-Sharaa, President of the Syrian Arab Republic. and senior ministers, and that they had agreed to cooperate with full transparency to clarify, resolve and close the outstanding safeguards issues to do with Syria’s past nuclear activities.
On that occasion, the Agency provided Syria with the results of the analysis of the environmental samples taken at three locations in Syria in 2024. The analysis of samples taken at one of these three locations revealed a significant number of natural uranium particles of anthropogenic origin, some of which are consistent with the conversion of uranium ore concentrate to uranium oxide.
We have taken further environmental samples at this location and are planning to visit Dair Alzour in the weeks ahead to conduct further analysis, access relevant documentation and to talk to those involved in past nuclear activities.
The Agency will evaluate the results of all the environmental samples taken and the information acquired from the visit to the Dair Alzour site, and may conduct follow-up activities, as necessary. Once this process has been completed and the results evaluated, the Agency hopes that the unresolved safeguards issues related to Syria’s past nuclear activities can be brought to a close.
As my report in the Application of IAEA Safeguards in the Middle East shows, there remain long-standing and fundamental differences of views among countries of the region regarding the application of comprehensive Agency safeguards to all nuclear activities. It has therefore not been possible to make further progress in fulfilling our mandate from the General Conference in this area. I will continue consultations.
Madam Chairperson,
Japan has completed the discharge into the sea of 14 batches of ALPS-treated water from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station and the 15th batch is expected to begin being released shortly. The IAEA has confirmed that the tritium concentrations in all discharged batches have been far below operational limits and are fully in line with international safety standards.
Earlier this week, the IAEA led a team of international experts on its fourth review mission under the framework of additional measures. Experts from China, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, the Russian Federation, and Switzerland are actively participating in these efforts that promote transparency and build confidence among stakeholders.
Meanwhile, the Agency continues to assist the Ministry of Environment of Japan on the managed recycling and final disposal of removed soil arising from decontamination activities after the accident.
Detailed updates of our recent work in nuclear safety and security are found in two reports before the Board: The Report on Nuclear and Radiation Safety and the Nuclear Security Report 2025.
Meanwhile, informal consultations on the Nuclear Security Plan 2026-2029, which provides details of the Agency’s proposed nuclear security activities for 2026-2029 using voluntary contributions to the Nuclear Security Fund, will continue after the GC has concluded.
The IAEA’s first?International Conference on Resilience of Nuclear Installations against External Events from a Safety Perspective?will be held from 20-24 October 2025 here in Vienna, and the Eleventh International Symposium on Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) will be held from 13-17 October 2025 in Accra, Ghana.
Following the inaugural English-language course held in Serbia last October, the Agency for the first time has delivered Interregional Advanced Training Courses on Nuclear Law in Spanish and French. One took place in July in Mexico and the other ended last week in Algeria.
Madam Chairperson,
The global momentum behind nuclear energy as a crucial element to achieving energy security, sustainable development and climate goals continues to grow. The IAEA is supporting Member States in their efforts to build the workforce, technologies, and partnerships needed to realize the full potential of nuclear energy, science and technology.
In June we took a major step towards increasing the international support to developing countries looking to finance nuclear power projects when I signed, together with World Bank Group President Ajay Banga, a Memorandum of Understanding between the two organizations. The partnership agreement formalizes multiple engagements between the IAEA and World Bank over the past year and marks the World Bank’s first concrete step to re-engaging with nuclear power. We are also working with other development banks and international financial institutions towards their agreement to finance nuclear power and to support the development of the required workforce. ?
The report on Strengthening the Agency's Activities related to Nuclear Science, Technology and Applications, now before the Board, provides an overview of the Agency’s work on nuclear power and non-power applications since the last General Conference. The Agency has also issued International Status and Prospects for Nuclear Power 2025, a report that I, as Director General, publish every four years. It shows that nuclear power is gaining renewed global momentum as a key low-carbon, dispatchable energy source and that with increasing international commitments – such as the pledge to triple nuclear capacity by 2050 – it is poised for significant growth, driven by innovations like small modular reactors (SMRs), supportive policies, financing mechanisms, and stakeholder engagement.
Through the SMR Platform, the Agency has been strengthening its support on SMRs, including the new SMR School to help Member States build knowledge about this key emerging technology. After the successful inaugural edition in Kenya in May, SMR Schools were held in Thailand in July and Argentina in August. More sessions are being planned for next year.
The 24th INPRO Dialogue Forum took place in Vienna in May, focusing on the sustainable deployment of floating nuclear power plants, which will use SMRs. Experts from 27 countries and several international organizations discussed how such facilities can expand access to reliable, secure and low-carbon energy.
Phase II of the Nuclear Harmonization and Standardization Initiative is progressing - content has been developed for the Regulatory Cooperation Toolkit; there is now an initial design of the SMR Regulation and Cooperation Hub; a proof of concept for using Artificial Intelligence to improve user experience; and a work plan for nuclear security for SMRs.
For the second year running, the Agency has been informing the G20 on the role of nuclear energy in advancing energy security and sustainable development. Under the South African Presidency, the IAEA launched an Outlook on Nuclear Energy in Africa, recognizing that nearly half of the countries embarking on nuclear programmes are on the continent.
In terms of meeting the reliable, low-carbon energy needs of nations, large NPPs will continue to be the dominant technology. Today, 416 nuclear power reactors operating in 31 countries make up more than 376 gigawatts of installed capacity, providing almost 10 per cent of the world’s total electricity and a quarter of its low-carbon supply. Another 62 reactors totalling 65 gigawatts are under construction in 15 countries, three of which are newcomers.
Looking ahead, preparations are under way for COP30 in Belém, Brazil, in mid-November. Building on the momentum of COP28 in Dubai and COP29 in Baku, the IAEA will once again be present, ensuring that nuclear energy remains central in global discussions on climate solutions.
The IAEA will organize the 30th IAEA Fusion Energy Conference from 13-18 October 2025, in Chengdu, China, hosted by the China Atomic Energy Authority. The conference will highlight evolving fusion research, development, and demonstration priorities, featuring advancements from both public and private sectors in experiments, theory, technology, engineering, materials science, safety, socioeconomics and commercialization. In conjunction with the Conference, the IAEA World Fusion Energy Group will convene on 14 October.
Here in Vienna in December we will hold the first International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence and Nuclear Energy, focusing on assessing and strengthening synergies between nuclear power and AI, from powering data centres to enhancing and accelerating nuclear innovation.
Madam Chairperson,
The Lise Meitner Programme, supported by extra-budgetary and in-kind contributions from Member States and other donors, plays a vital role in developing the next generation of nuclear leaders. In recent months the programme facilitated the professional visits by early and mid-career women to nuclear sites in Argentina, Japan and Canada.
The Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme is expanding the global talent base for the nuclear field. Since 2020, 760 female students and graduates from 129 Member States have been supported in 76 countries. In its fifth cycle, 200 candidates from 108 countries were selected, and the sixth cycle of applications opened on 1 September. To ensure this effort continues, additional support from Member States is urgently needed.
The Agency’s financial stability and continuity of operations depend on the timely payment of assessed contributions. As a number of contributions for 2025 are still outstanding, I would like to urge all Member States to settle any outstanding contributions as soon as possible.
As we continue the Agency’s indispensable work towards international peace and in support of our 180 Member States, I am confident I can continue to count on your steadfast support. ??