Secretary Wright Delivers Official Statement at IAEA in Vienna, Austria—September 14, 2026

His Excellency Mr. Christopher Wright, Secretary of Energy, to take the floor. Hello. Hello. I'm honored to represent the United States of America at the 70th IAEA General Conference. This year we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. We reflect on a history defined by a tireless spirit of innovation and bold exploration. It was this American drive that over seven decades ago moved President Dwight D. Eisenhower to deliver his historic Atoms for Peace address, sowing the seeds for the creation of this very agency. Together, our high-level cooperation has achieved monumental milestones, pioneering global safeguards, securing vulnerable fissile materials across the globe, countering and preparing for radiological and nuclear threats, creating energy abundance and advancing nuclear science to improve living standards. As the world's foremost nuclear innovator, the United States remains steadfastly dedicated to the IAEA's mission. I would like to take a moment to congratulate Timor-Leste on becoming the newest member of the IAEA. America looks forward to working with you. Thanks to President Trump's leadership, the United States is ushering in an American nuclear renaissance. President Trump directed the administration to revitalize America's nuclear sector, modernizing regulations, improving processes, and streamlining advanced reactor testing to rebuild the nuclear industrial base. This agenda allows the United States to establish an expedited pathway for testing and approving advanced reactors, set standards for converting surplus uranium and plutonium into reactor fuel, and support the energy infrastructure needed for America's reindustrialization and artificial intelligence. These actions advance President Trump's bold goal of adding 300 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity to the United States by 2050. Through the Department of Energy's Advanced Reactor Pilot Program, we are committed to supporting the deployment of small nuclear reactors. This program has led to five distinct reactors achieving criticality in rapid succession this summer. The operational data and regulatory insights gained from these projects will inform the success of future commercial reactor technologies. Through the Department of Energy's groundbreaking Genesis mission, we are unleashing AI to revolutionize nuclear engineering. This initiative uses AI to accelerate research and simplify testing. These tools will make it easier, safer, and more affordable to build the next generation of nuclear reactors. There is no question the United States remains committed to the peaceful expansion of nuclear energy. We are encouraged by the number of countries interested in joining the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage, CSC. As the only international instrument with the potential to establish a global regime for civil nuclear liability and compensation, the CSC is a key step to unlocking project financing and facilitating civil nuclear cooperation among all IAEA member states. As America leads a new era of nuclear energy at home and around the world, we will provide that rapid growth and uncompromising standards that go hand in hand. American nuclear leadership means American technology backed by the world's highest standards of safety, security, and nonproliferation, protecting our national interests while strengthening the competitiveness of our companies and earning the trust of our partners. We resolutely support the IAEA's independence and technical credibility in its mission to promote the safe, secure, and peaceful uses of nuclear technology, and we will continue to work closely with the IAEA to advance these efforts. The United States is proud to be the largest contributor to the IAEA, including its work on peaceful, non-power nuclear applications, from fighting cancer and protecting agriculture to strengthening nuclear security and advancing innovations. These investments deliver tangible benefits to people around the world. America's nuclear leadership requires the strongest possible safety and security foundation, and we commend the IAEA for its assistance in advancing these priorities worldwide. A powerful recent testament to this shared security mission is our successful joint operation between the United States, United Kingdom, and Venezuela with vital technical support of the IAEA to remove 13.5 kilograms of enriched uranium from the shutdown RV-1 research reactor. On another positive note, Syria has taken concrete measures to remedy its prior non-compliance through full and accurate reporting consistent with its NPT safeguards agreement. We commend President Ahmed al-Sharaf for his leadership and President Trump for developing a visionary policy towards the new Syrian government that paved the way. This shows that revolving safeguards non-compliance is possible, and that what makes it possible is full and proactive cooperation and transparency. There are no shortcuts when it comes to closing significant, long-standing safeguards non-compliance involving undeclared nuclear materials and facilities. In stark contrast, the Islamic Republic of Iran's continued failure to uphold its NPT-required safeguards obligations undermines the international non-proliferation regime. Its lack of transparency with the IAEA is unacceptable. Safeguard obligations are not optional, and they cannot be ignored without consequences. The Director General's reports have been clear. The Islamic Republic of Iran continues to deny the IAEA's verification and monitoring mandate. Iran has been given ample time to address its egregious negligence towards its NPT-required obligations. But that time is up. Allowing Iran more time only delays overdue accountability. In June 2025, the Board of Governors adopted a resolution finding Iran to be non-compliant with its safeguards agreement because it failed to credibly address critical safeguards concerns that had been outstanding for more than six years. Since this adoption, the Board has deferred its reporting obligation five times to provide Iran time to improve its cooperation with the agency. These delays have not yielded the desired results. In contrast to Iran's failure to live up to their obligations, the Board of Governors took the required action to report Iran's non-compliance to the UN Security Council. The position of President Trump and the United States is unequivocal. Iran must never develop or obtain a nuclear weapon. Iran must fully cooperate with the IAEA, meet its safeguards obligations, and provide the access necessary for the agency to do its job. The choice before Iran is clear. Continued defiance in isolation or cooperation and a path toward greater security, prosperity, and integration with the international community. America believes the IAEA's enduring strength lies in its founding mission, verifying nuclear safeguards, ensuring nuclear safety and security, and delivering peaceful nuclear technology to member states. Furthermore, we ask the agency to prioritize operational efficiency, eliminate redundant programs, and ensure that all funding contributed by member states is used to uphold the foundational promise that underpins the nuclear nonproliferation regime. A disciplined IAEA remaining focused on its core technical mandate will prove beneficial to all member states. The United States is committed to working with the IAEA and member states to promote peaceful nuclear technology with the highest standards of safeguards, safety, and security. Together, we can build a future defined by partnership and peace, fueled by the awesome power of the atom. Thank you.