The International Atomic Energy Agency
The world's nuclear watchdog, born from Eisenhower's 'Atoms for Peace' idea, which inspects nuclear sites.
What the paper can ask
- Statute in force 29 July 1957; origin in Eisenhower's 1953 'Atoms for Peace' speech.
- 182 member states; Director General Rafael Grossi since December 2019. (as of 23 Oct 2026)
- Won the 2005 Nobel Peace Prize jointly with its then chief Mohamed ElBaradei.
- In September 2022 it began its first inspection of a nuclear plant in a war zone, at Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine.
Why exams ask
Headquarters, founding year, its Nobel and its Director General come up whenever Iran or Ukraine's plants are in the news.
The full story
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) promotes the safe, secure and peaceful use of nuclear science and checks that nuclear material is not diverted to weapons. It was proposed in US President Eisenhower's 1953 'Atoms for Peace' speech and established in 1957. It is an autonomous body within the UN system that reports to both the General Assembly and the Security Council.
In the news
Test yourself
1.The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is headquartered in which city?
Correct. The IAEA, established in 1957, is headquartered in Vienna, Austria.
Not quite. The IAEA, established in 1957, is headquartered in Vienna, Austria. It goes into your error book.