TEHRAN – Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, has called on the IAEA to give more technical assistance to the developing countries.

Soltanieh, who is also the chairman of the Group of 77, made the remarks in an address to the IAEA Board of Governors meeting in Vienna on Monday.
He said that the IAEA should provide assistance to the developing countries to enable them to overcome challenges facing their nuclear programs, build necessary safety infrastructure, and develop the required mechanisms for overseeing and managing nuclear facilities.
The safety and security issues should not impede the countries’ nuclear programs meant for peaceful purposes, he stated.
He also highlighted the importance of sharing technical knowledge for management of nuclear activities and formulating safety standards.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Soltanieh said that sellers of nuclear technology should be obligated to provide the necessary safety procedures to their clients and the IAEA should also play the role of a facilitator.
He also criticized certain countries for not reporting to the agency on the failures and incidents, which occur in their nuclear facilities.