IAEA chief underscores commitment to nuclear safety and verification
IAEA chief calls for renewed cooperation on nuclear safety and verification
Qinilo.com – Against a backdrop of conflict, energy pressures and concern over nuclear proliferation, the International Atomic Energy Agency has opened its 70th General Conference in Vienna with an appeal for practical cooperation and sustained international support.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi told delegates on Monday that the agency’s work continues to be guided by a shared commitment, even as political tensions and security risks complicate its mission. The annual gathering, the agency’s principal policy-setting forum, is expected to bring together roughly 4,000 participants during the week.
“We are stubbornly optimistic that we are going to get that done as well.”
Grossi’s message combined optimism with a clear acknowledgement of the difficult issues facing the nuclear watchdog. From inspections and safeguards to medical applications of nuclear science, he presented the agency as a forum where countries can still address high-risk challenges through technical expertise and dialogue.
Ukraine, Iran and Syria remain central concerns
Nuclear safety in Ukraine remains one of the most urgent priorities. Grossi pointed to the seventh locally agreed truce around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, reached with the cooperation of Moscow and Kyiv, as an important example of what direct engagement can achieve. The arrangement enabled essential repair work after the facility’s external power supply was lost for a tenth time in June.
Reliable external electricity is vital for the safe operation of a nuclear power plant, including the systems needed to cool reactors and spent fuel. The repeated loss of power at Zaporizhzhia has therefore reinforced fears that military activity around the site could create conditions for a serious nuclear emergency. Grossi described the repair effort as a crucial measure to reduce that risk.
He also highlighted the role of IAEA specialists working in dangerous conditions to help prevent a nuclear accident in an active war zone. Their efforts, together with the agency’s less visible inspection work, were presented as evidence of the continuing value of independent technical monitoring.
Iran’s nuclear programme was another major focus. Grossi said the international community cannot expect a stable and predictable environment, or rebuild confidence and trust, without returning to cooperative work. While recognizing Iran’s security concerns and the pressures it faces, he stressed the importance of safeguards that can provide credible confirmation that the programme is entirely peaceful.
The agency’s verification responsibilities are central to the international safeguards system. Inspectors and technical experts examine whether nuclear material is being used consistently with declared civilian purposes. Their work is often conducted quietly, but it is essential to reducing uncertainty among states and helping prevent disputes from escalating.
Grossi also cited the IAEA’s verification efforts in Syria as an illustration of the value of multilateral institutions. In his view, the agency and the United Nations can help shift difficult questions away from a category of unresolved concern and toward more normal, manageable international relations.
Nuclear energy’s expanding role
Alongside the security agenda, the Vienna conference is examining the growing global interest in nuclear power as countries seek dependable electricity supplies and stronger energy security. Revised IAEA projections indicate that worldwide nuclear generating capacity could rise to more than three times its current level by 2060.
For many developing countries, nuclear energy is increasingly seen as a possible component of long-term economic planning. But expanding access requires more than the construction of power plants. It depends on trained personnel, regulatory capability, safety systems, scientific infrastructure and the responsible transfer of technology.
Grossi said the agency’s training and capacity-building work is indispensable if countries are to benefit on more equal terms from peaceful nuclear technologies. The IAEA supports states in developing the expertise needed to use those technologies safely, whether for electricity generation, health care, agriculture or environmental applications.
The director general also drew attention to emerging questions about electricity demand from artificial intelligence data centres. As these facilities become more widespread, governments and energy planners are considering how to meet their substantial power needs while maintaining reliable supply and reducing emissions. Nuclear energy is part of that wider discussion, alongside other generation and grid options.
Shipping was another area identified for attention. Maritime transport carries about 80 per cent of global trade, making its future energy needs significant for the world economy. The possible use of nuclear technology in the sector raises technical, safety and regulatory questions that require international coordination.
Health, environmental protection and development
Grossi emphasized that the IAEA’s mission extends well beyond reactors and inspections. Nuclear science is used in cancer treatment, disease control and environmental protection, and the agency helps countries apply those tools through international cooperation.
He referred to cancer specialists who assist and train oncologists in Africa as a powerful example of the agency’s human impact. Radiation medicine plays an important role in diagnosing and treating cancer, but access to equipment and specialized medical knowledge remains uneven. Training programmes can help strengthen local capacity and widen access to care.
The agency also supports work on zoonotic diseases, which can pass between animals and people. Nuclear-derived techniques can contribute to diagnostics and disease surveillance, complementing broader public-health and veterinary efforts. Environmental programmes likewise use nuclear science to better understand pollution, water resources and other challenges.
Grossi described the agency’s broad mandate as an exceptionally important public service and urged member states to continue backing its work. His appeal included support for the technical assistance that enables lower- and middle-income countries to make peaceful use of nuclear technology.
UN chief urges dependable backing for the agency
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the conference was taking place during a period of deep global uncertainty. His statement, delivered by Monica Juma, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Vienna, warned that attacks involving nuclear facilities are becoming more frequent while pressures connected to nuclear proliferation are increasing and safeguards are under strain.
At the same time, he said the world is approaching a major transformation in nuclear electricity generation that must be handled with careful oversight. The dual challenge is clear: nuclear technology may offer important benefits, but those benefits depend on strong safety standards, impartial verification and responsible international cooperation.
“More than ever, our world needs the IAEA’s professionalism, impartiality, and technical excellence,” he said. “And we need Member States to stand with you as you carry out your vital work.”
Guterres called on states to cooperate fully with the IAEA in verifying the peaceful character of Iran’s nuclear programme and in supporting efforts to avert a disaster at Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia plant. He also urged predictable, sustainable funding for the agency’s Technical Cooperation Fund, which assists developing countries in applying nuclear science for peaceful purposes.
As the conference proceeds, delegates face an agenda shaped by immediate security threats and long-term development choices. The central message from Vienna is that technical institutions can only succeed when member states provide access, resources and the political space needed for their experts to work.
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