The UN nuclear agency said on Thursday its top inspector Olli Heinonen, head of investigations into Iran and Syria, will leave his position for personal reasons after nearly 30 years at the Vienna-based organisation.
Mr Heinonen, 63, is head of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) safeguards department which verifies that countries’ nuclear programmes are not being diverted for military use. He is the agency’s leading Iran expert.
A no-nonsense Finn, Mr Heinonen is probably best known for giving a presentation to diplomats on Iran in February 2008 which indicated links between projects to process uranium, test explosives and modify a missile cone in a way suitable for a nuclear warhead.
“He has been indefatigable in his pursuit of the truth behind Iran’s nuclear programme. He is one of the agency’s most experienced, knowledgeable inspectors,” said Mark Fitzpatrick at London’s International Institute for Strategic Studies. “Of course, he’s only part of a team of many good inspectors and the agency’s work in Iran will not grind to a halt.” Since Mr Heinonen, an expert in the chemistry of radioactive materials, joined the agency in 1983, a secret nuclear programme was uncovered in Iran, North Korea left the Non-Proliferation Treaty and tested two nuclear devices.