The IAEA Board of Governors Meeting. An Expert Discussion
On March 10, 2025, the Valdai Club hosted an expert discussion focusing on nuclear energy and the outcomes of the ongoing IAEA Board of Governors meeting. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors convened in Vienna from March 3 to 7, addressing critical issues such as the safety of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the negotiations surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme, and the transfer of nuclear materials in the context of the AUKUS partnership. On March 1, the 27th IAEA observer team was rotated at the Zaporizhzhya NPP, marking the first instance of such a rotation occurring without Ukraine’s involvement. Previously, the observers’ routes were coordinated with the Ukrainian side and traversed its territory. This time, however, the IAEA opted to rotate the team through territory controlled by Russia, prompting the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry to issue a formal note of protest. The situation surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme remains tense. In November, the IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution criticizing Iran’s level of cooperation with the agency, a move opposed by Russia. Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, argued that the resolution undermines efforts to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iranian nuclear deal. Finally, cooperation in the field of nuclear submarines between the United States, Britain and Australia within the framework of the AUKUS project could upset the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific. This initiative impacts the security interests of both Russia and China and has sparked debates over its compliance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). What are the current trends in the development of nuclear energy? How is the security of the Zaporizhzhya NPP being maintained? What new perspectives might the US administration bring to negotiations with Iran? How will the AUKUS project influence strategic stability? And what role does the IAEA play in strengthening global nuclear security today? Speakers: Mikhail Ulyanov, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the International Organisations in Vienna, Austria Anton Khlopkov, Director of the Center for Energy and Security Studies (CENESS) Ulrike Reisner, independent political analyst, co-founder of the BRENNUS Institute Paris-Vienna Alireza Noori, Assistant Professor of International Relations, Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Shahid Beheshti University (Iran) Moderator: Anton Bespalov, Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club
On March 10, 2025, the Valdai Club hosted an expert discussion focusing on nuclear energy and the outcomes of the ongoing IAEA Board of Governors meeting. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors convened in Vienna from March 3 to 7, addressing critical issues such as the safety of the Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), the negotiations surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme, and the transfer of nuclear materials in the context of the AUKUS partnership. On March 1, the 27th IAEA observer team was rotated at the Zaporizhzhya NPP, marking the first instance of such a rotation occurring without Ukraine’s involvement. Previously, the observers’ routes were coordinated with the Ukrainian side and traversed its territory. This time, however, the IAEA opted to rotate the team through territory controlled by Russia, prompting the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry to issue a formal note of protest. The situation surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme remains tense. In November, the IAEA Board of Governors passed a resolution criticizing Iran’s level of cooperation with the agency, a move opposed by Russia. Mikhail Ulyanov, Russia’s Permanent Representative to International Organizations in Vienna, argued that the resolution undermines efforts to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iranian nuclear deal. Finally, cooperation in the field of nuclear submarines between the United States, Britain and Australia within the framework of the AUKUS project could upset the balance of power in the Asia-Pacific. This initiative impacts the security interests of both Russia and China and has sparked debates over its compliance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). What are the current trends in the development of nuclear energy? How is the security of the Zaporizhzhya NPP being maintained? What new perspectives might the US administration bring to negotiations with Iran? How will the AUKUS project influence strategic stability? And what role does the IAEA play in strengthening global nuclear security today? Speakers: Mikhail Ulyanov, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the International Organisations in Vienna, Austria Anton Khlopkov, Director of the Center for Energy and Security Studies (CENESS) Ulrike Reisner, independent political analyst, co-founder of the BRENNUS Institute Paris-Vienna Alireza Noori, Assistant Professor of International Relations, Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Shahid Beheshti University (Iran) Moderator: Anton Bespalov, Programme Director of the Valdai Discussion Club