In Focus :: IAEA and Iraq
News Update on IAEA & Iraq
Chronology of IAEA Inspections & Key Events
(May - November 2003)
26, Wednesday: UNMOVIC Files Quarterly Report with Security Council. In its latest quarterly report to the Security Council, UNMOVIC updated its work for the period September through November 2003, noting that during the period neither it nor the IAEA had been provided with the report of the US-led Iraq Survey Group investigating weapons of mass destruction.
Read Report [pdf].
20, Thursday: IAEA Director General Statement to Board of Governors. In briefing the Board about the IAEA's work, IAEA Director General ElBaradei included a statement on Iraq. "The Agency's mandate in Iraq under various Security Council resolutions still stands. In May, the Security Council adopted resolution 1483 in which, inter alia, it expressed its intention to revisit the mandates of the IAEA and the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC). We are awaiting the results of that review and further guidance from the Council and, in the meantime, maintaining capacity here in Vienna in our Iraq Nuclear Verification Office. I believe that, once the security situation permits, it would be prudent for UN and Agency inspectors to return to Iraq, to bring the weapons files to a closure - and, through implementation of a Security Council approved plan for long term monitoring, to provide ongoing assurance that programmes related to the development and production of weapons of mass destruction have not been resumed.
Read Board Statement.
16, Thursday: ElBaradei Calls for Return of IAEA Inspectors to Iraq. IAEA Director General ElBaradei said in a press interview that it was vital for Agency inspectors to return to Iraq because the country's chaotic security situation could make it harder to detect any attempts to develop weapons of mass destruction. The Agency’s mandate in Iraq under various Security Council resolutions still stands. In May 2003, the Security Council adopted resolution 1483 in which it expressed its intention to revisit the mandates of the IAEA and the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC). The latest Security Council resolution on Iraq, which outlines roles for bringing peace and stability to the country, was adopted 15 October 2003.
Read Press Interview | SC October Resolution [pdf].
10, IAEA Sends Report on Iraq Inspections to Security Council. In a letter to the UN Security Council President, IAEA Director General ElBaradei submitted the latest required consolidated report on IAEA verification activities in Iraq.
Read Report.
19, Friday: States Commend IAEA Verification in Iraq. IAEA Member States today commended the IAEA's nuclear verification in Iraq.
Read Full Story | 47th IAEA General Conference.
8, Monday: Director General Updates Board on Iraq, Iran, North Korea. In a statement to the IAEA Board, Dr. ElBaradei addressed some recent developments of particular importance in Iraq, Iran and North Korea.
Read Full Text on Iraq | Full Statement.
8, Friday: Report on Iraq Nuclear Verification Issued for IAEA General Conference. The IAEA issued a report from the Director General on the implementation of UN Security Councils relating to Iraq. The report is for the IAEA General Conference, which opens in Vienna 15 September.
Read Report | General Conference Pages.
18, Friday: Director General Updates Board on Iraq, Iran, North Korea. In a statement to the IAEA Board, Dr. ElBaradei addressed some recent developments of particular importance in Iraq, Iran and North Korea.
Read Full Text on Iraq | Full Statement.
16, Monday: DG Statement to Board. In a statement to the IAEA Board of Governors 16 June, IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei addressed issues related to nuclear verification, security and technology.
Read Full Text on Iraq | Full Statement.
6, Friday: IAEA Inspectors in Iraq. On 7 June 2003, a team of seven IAEA safeguards inspectors will begin taking an inventory and securing nuclear material at the nuclear material storage site at the Tuwaitha nuclear complex. The nuclear material - 1.8 tonnes of low enriched uranium and 500 tonnes of natural uranium - had been under IAEA seal since 1991. It was last visited by IAEA inspectors in February 2003.
Read Media Advisory.
23, Friday: IAEA Planning to Send Team to Iraq. The IAEA is planning to send a team to the Iraqi nuclear research centre at Tuwaitha soon, to verify the nuclear material under safeguards pursuant to Iraq's NPT safeguards agreement. The despatch of such a mission has been agreed to with the US government.
Read Press Release.
22, Thursday: Security Council Adopts Iraq Resolution. In Resolution 1483, the Security Council decided, among other points, to lift trade and financial sanctions on Iraq and revisit the mandates of the IAEA and the United Nations Monitoring, Verification and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC) at a later date.
Read Press Release | Resolution 1483.
19, Monday: IAEA Calls For Urgent Action On Nuclear Situation In Iraq. IAEA Director General ElBaradei, called on the United States and other Coalition authorities to allow IAEA experts to return to Iraq to address a possible radiological emergency there. He expressed concern by reports of looting and destruction at nuclear sites and about the potential radiological safety and security implications of nuclear and radiological materials no longer under control.
Read Press Release.
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