The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was founded in 1957 with a mission to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy while ensuring that nuclear technology is not used to further any military purposes. Established in response to the growing global awareness of the dangerous potential of nuclear energy, the IAEA was conceived as a watchdog and a facilitator. The IAEA works closely with member states to provide guidance, technical assistance, and oversight.

The Addition Protocol is a legal document that was adopted on 15 May 1997. It emerged after it became clear (prior to the 1991 Gulf War) that Iraq was able to subvert NPT safeguards to pursue a weapon of mass destruction. Furthermore, North Korea was able to hide its own nuclear program from IAEA inspections under the guise of a civilian program. The goal of the Addition Protocol is to fill the gaps in pre-existing verification methods.

The Addition Protocol is individually negotiated between the IAEA and every state party, so as to best tailor the verification regime to each state. Specifically, the protocol provides the IAEA with more oversight over states’ nuclear activities. The IAEA is granted information about a states’ material holdings and trade with other states. Furthermore, the IAEA is granted expanded inspection privileges, ensuring that states cannot subvert verification procedures.

In short, the Addition Protocol allows for the IAEA to have greater discretion in its collection of information to maintain the verification regime. The Addition Protocol enjoys support from the recognized Nuclear Weapons States, although many non-Nuclear Weapons States (or states with significant nuclear activities) have either not ratified the agreement or signed it all together.