1. 1The IAEA is responsible for safeguarding that states live up to their commitments not to use nuclear programmes for weapons purposes. Safeguards agreements cover nuclear materials and activities and serve as 'a confidence-building measure, an early warning mechanism, and the trigger that sets in motion other responses by the international community if and when the need arises'. Safeguards in the 1990s were strengthened because of failures to detect clandestine activity in Iraq and North Korea. The additional protocol or AP is an important element of the strengthened system. It is a legal document signed by individual states and the IAEA granting the Agency 'complementary inspection authority to that provided in underlying safeguards agreements'. A principal aim is to enable the IAEA to provide assurances about declared and possible undeclared activities. It gives the IAEA 'expanded rights of access to information and sites, as well as additional authority to use the most advanced technologies during the verification process'. See International Atomic Energy Agency, 'IAEA safeguards overview: comprehensive safeguards agreements and additional protocols', http://www.iaea.org/NewsCenter/Focus/IaeaIran/sg_overview.shtml, last accessed 28 Jan. 2004.
2. 2The shah once planned the construction of up to twenty nuclear power plants and, to this end, established the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran in 1974.
3. 3Ambassador of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 'Memorandum on the peaceful nuclear activities of the Islamic Republic of Iran policy', 14 June 2003, submitted to the inquiry on the 'Foreign policy aspects of the war against terrorism', House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, 10th Report, Session 2002-3, http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200203/cmselect/cmfaff/405/405we18.htm, last accessed 12 Feb. 2004.
4. 4M. Ghannadi-Maragheh , Vice President for Nuclear Fuel Production, Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, 'Iranian nuclear fuel cycle experience', paper presented to World Nuclear Association Annual Symposium, London, 3-5 Sept. 2003, p. 1, http://www.world-nuclear.org/sym/subindex.htm, last accessed 12 Feb. 2004.
5. 5Director General, International Atomic Energy Agency, 'Implementation of the NPT safeguards agreement of the Islamic Republic of Iran', 10 Nov. 2003, p. 9. For an overview of several elements of Iran's civil nuclear energy programme, see the website of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, http://www.aeoi.org.ir.