ABSTRACT
To verify the fact that nuclear material committed to peaceful nuclear activities is not diverted to nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices is the main objective of IAEA safeguards. After a short description of the historical development and the legal basis, safeguards methods and techniques presently employed or under development by the IAEA are discussed and development goals are indicated. Nuclear material accountancy and independent verification of nuclear material flow and inventory are the two pillars of IAEA safeguards. The methods applied for verification include non-destructive assay (NDA) techniques, destructive chemical analysis (DA), and containment and surveillance measures.
