Strengthening IAEA Nuclear Security Guidance at a Pivotal Moment

At a time of profound geopolitical upheaval, the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) nuclear security recommendations are central to preventing nuclear terrorism and sustaining global confidence in the peaceful use of nuclear technologies. Those recommendations are now undergoing their first update in more than a decade. To inform this process, the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) has released a new paper, Modernizing IAEA Recommendations for a Changing Security Landscape: A Path Forward, which offers practical recommendations to help governments strengthen IAEA nuclear security guidance.

The paper examines how evolving threats—including cyber vulnerabilities, insider risks, emerging technologies, and geopolitical instability—are reshaping nuclear security challenges and underscores the need for adaptable, resilient, and forward-looking IAEA recommendations. Drawing on insights from NTI’s Global Dialogue on Nuclear Security Priorities and contributions from international experts, the paper outlines actionable steps to address insider threats, enhance information and computer security, and strengthen the sustainability and resilience of nuclear security regimes.

As countries initiate, expand, and sustain nuclear energy programs, modernized guidance will be essential to reinforcing confidence in the peaceful use of nuclear technology while reducing the risks of theft, sabotage, and nuclear terrorism. In the coming years, NTI will continue to engage with governments and international stakeholders throughout the IAEA review process, advocating for these recommendations and supporting efforts to ensure the revised guidance reflects today’s evolving threat landscape.