US aid cuts weaken UN monitoring of Iran's nuclear program – NYT
Illustrative photo: IAEA's ability to monitor Iran's nuclear program has been compromised (Getty Images)
The suspension of the foreign aid program by US President Donald Trump has disrupted the UN nuclear agency's ability to monitor Iran's nuclear activities, according to The New York Times.
Current and former US government nuclear experts told the American daily newspaper that this happened due to the suspension of two programs that provide assistance to international nuclear inspectors.
It refers to an executive order issued by Trump on his first day in office, which froze all US foreign aid programs for 90 days.
Unnamed sources cited by The New York Times said the two programs were aimed at supporting the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) by hiring and training nuclear inspectors, as well as supplying the agency with equipment and advanced laboratory devices needed for sample analysis.
According to the American newspaper, one of the programs has already been reinstated, while the other remains frozen.
The IAEA declined to comment on the reported aid cuts. However, the US State Department, which is responsible for funding the programs, told the NYT that "certain U.S. assistance to programs that support International Atomic Energy Agency efforts and capabilities to inspect nuclear facilities worldwide, including in Iran, are continuing."
At the same time, the State Department did not clarify whether any of the programs had been frozen or merely reduced.
As a reminder, on February 5, US President Donald Trump stated that he wanted to sign a new nuclear agreement with Iran. Notably, such a deal was previously signed in 2015, but during his first presidential term, Trump withdrew the US from it in 2018.
Recently, Trump sent a letter to Tehran, proposing negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. He also hinted at the possibility of military action if Tehran refused to reach a deal.
Following this, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei expressed unwillingness to engage in talks with a "bullying government" and accused the US of pursuing a policy of "dictate" and "imposition."
