New York, Nov 17, IRNA -- Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency Yukiya Amano said that the IAEA has had another eventful year as important developments were made in relation to Iran's nuclear program.

'Since I last had the honor to address the General Assembly there were important developments in relation to Iran's nuclear issue,' Amano said on Tuesday, addressing the Seventieth Regular Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

He noted that there have been important developments concerning the implementation of IAEA safeguards in Iran.

'As I mentioned, In July, Iran and the Group 5+1 countries agreed on a Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The Security Council asked the IAEA to undertake verification and monitoring of Iran�s nuclear-related commitments under the JCPOA, and our Board of Governors authorized us to do so,' the IAEA director general added.

He noted that Iran will implement the Additional Protocol to its Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA.

'This is a powerful verification tool that will give the Agency greater access to information and to locations in Iran,' Amano said.

He noted that Iran also agreed to implement a number of additional transparency measures; these go beyond the scope of the additional protocol and will help the Agency to better understand Iran�s nuclear activities.

'Also in July, I signed a Road-map with Iran for the clarification of possible military dimensions to the country�s nuclear program by the end of this year. Activities set out in the Road-map were completed by the target date of October 15th,' he added.

'We are now finalizing our analysis of all of the information at our disposal. I will present my final assessment on all past and present outstanding issues to the IAEA Board of Governors by December 15th; my report will be factual, objective and impartial. Our Member States will determine the appropriate response.'

Much work remains to be done, 'but I believe the significant progress made on the Iran nuclear issue represents a real success for diplomacy'. It demonstrates that even complex and challenging issues can be tackled effectively if all parties are committed to dialogue � not dialogue for its own sake, but dialogue aimed at achieving results.

In the case of Iran, the sustained efforts of the IAEA, the Group 5+1 countries, the Security Council � and, of course, Iran itself � have got us to where 'we are today'. The IAEA was able to make a vital contribution by sticking to its technical mandate and not straying into politics.

The agreements reached in July represent a clear net gain for the IAEA from the verification point of view.

The Agency will continue to implement safeguards in Iran with a view to being able to draw what 'we call the broader conclusion� � that all nuclear material remains in peaceful activities � in due course.

By IRNA