Suspension of U.S. aid weakens UN oversight of Iran's nuclear activities – NYT

The New York Times reports this, citing sources.  

According to the publication, disruptions in the UN's nuclear oversight stem from the freezing of two programs that supported international nuclear inspectors.  

Current and former U.S. nuclear experts link the aid suspension to an executive order signed by Trump on his first day in office. The order mandated a 90-day freeze on all U.S. foreign aid programs.  

NYT sources state that the two blocked programs were designed to support the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). They funded nuclear inspector training and provided the agency with equipment and laboratory tools for sample analysis.  

One program has been restored, while the other remains frozen.  

The IAEA has not commented on the funding cuts. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department, responsible for financing these initiatives, told NYT that "some assistance for programs supporting IAEA's nuclear inspection efforts worldwide, including in Iran, continues."

However, the State Department did not specify whether the programs were fully frozen or merely reduced.

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