(WASHINGTON) – U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, commented today on reports that Iran is preparing to bolster Syria's prospects for joining the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Candidates for membership are drawn from regional groups of nations, in this case, the Middle East and South Asia (MESA) region. By withdrawing its own bid to become a member of the board, Iran is reportedly pushing to have neighboring Syria named as a representative from the region. Earlier this year, Ros-Lehtinen introduced the United Nations Transparency, Accountability and Reform Act (H.R. 2712) which includes provisions to block IAEA Board of Governors membership for nations under IAEA investigation and to prevent funding for non-verification and compliance assistance to rogue nations such as Iran and Syria. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:

Reports that Syria is poised to join the IAEA Board of Governors, with help from the Iranian regime, undermines the vital mission of the nuclear watchdog agency. Both countries have repeatedly resisted any meaningful international oversight of their clandestine nuclear programs, and the prospect that either might assume leadership positions in the IAEA should sound an alarm among responsible nations.

For more than a year since the destruction of its illicit nuclear reactor at Al-Kibar, Damascus has resisted all attempts by the IAEA to investigate both the site and its clandestine ties to North Korea which has been active in Syria's nuclear development program.

Concerns about Iran's efforts to manipulate the selection process by placing Syria on the IAEA board are compounded by Iranian attempts to secure a seat on the UN Security Council. 

At a time when the IAEA is seeking more financial assistance from the United States and other nations, the prospect that Syria might join the Board of Governors demonstrates the dangerous flaws within the IAEA and the urgent need for U.S.-led reform.

Congress should swiftly enact pending UN reform legislation that conditions our help to the IAEA on the agency’s willingness to bar rogue nations from positions of leadership and to suspend nuclear-related assistance to countries seeking clandestine nuclear capabilities. 

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