Watchdog pledges ‘demanding’ oversight of nuclear submarine deal

President Joe Biden and the leaders of Australia and the United Kingdom announced on Monday in San Diego that Australia would purchase nuclear-powered attack submarines from the US

International Atomic Energy Agency director general Rafael Grossi (Heinz-Peter Bader/AP)

The head of the global nuclear regulatory agency has pledged to be “very demanding” in overseeing the United States’ planned transfer of nuclear-powered submarines to Australia, amid complaints that the US move could clear the way for bad actors to escape nuclear oversight in the future.

Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), spoke to reporters during a Washington visit.