Why in the news?

  • Iran rejected the resolution plan extended by the IAEA, which suggested that Iran fully cooperate by supplying “accurate information” on its stockpile of near–near-weapons-grade uranium and allowing inspectors access to its nuclear facilities.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA

  • What is it?: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is an autonomous intergovernmental organization established in 1957 under the United Nations system, aiming to promote the safe, secure, and peaceful use of nuclear energy worldwide, while preventing its military use including nuclear weapons proliferation.
  • Headquarters: Vienna, Austria.
  • Objectives:
    • Promote peaceful use of nuclear technology
    • Establish safeguards against military use
    • Provide nuclear safety and security standards
    • Encourage scientific cooperation and technical assistance
  • Functions:
    • Inspection and verification of nuclear facilities to prevent weaponization.
    • Technical cooperation with member states on nuclear science applications like health, agriculture, energy, and environment.
  • Role in non-proliferation:
    • Implements safeguards under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) focusing on non-nuclear weapon states.
    • Monitors peaceful use compliance and responds to nuclear emergencies
  • Reporting: It reports to the UN General Assembly and Security Council but operates independently with its own governing bodies.

Iran

  • Location: West Asia
  • Capital: Tehran
  • Border Countries: Iraq, Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
  • Border Sharing Waterbodies: Caspian Sea, Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf.
  • Key Cooperation with India : Chabahar Port , INSTC.

Source: The Hindu