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 The European Union, which includes three of the powers involved in
the diplomacy with Iran, said it was "prepared to consider
sympathetically the resource needs" of the U.N. watchdog, without
specifying any contributions.
Iran and the United States, France, Germany, Britain, China and
Russia failed last month to meet a self-imposed deadline to end a
12-year dispute over Tehran's nuclear program, giving themselves
seven more months for negotiations.
As a result, an interim deal reached last year will remain in force.
The IAEA, which has inspectors on the ground, is checking that Iran
lives up to its commitments under that accord to halt its most
sensitive nuclear work in exchange for some easing of sanctions.
 Yukiya Amano, director general of the International Atomic Energy
Agency, told the IAEA's 35-nation governing board about the need for
voluntary budget contributions.
"I invite member states which are in a position to do so to make the
necessary funding available as soon as possible in order to ensure
smooth continuation of our activities," he said at the closed-door
session, according to an IAEA statement.
Because of the deal's political importance, diplomats have said
there should be no problem raising the required funds.
The EU voiced its continued support for the IAEA's work.
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Iran denies Western allegations it has been seeking to develop the
capability to make nuclear weapons. But its refusal to scale back
its uranium enrichment program has drawn international sanctions.
IAEA inspectors visit Iran's enrichment facilities of Natanz and
Fordow daily, compared to about once a week before. It has also
procured specialized equipment for its analytical work.
Saying the IAEA's workload had "greatly increased", Amano added that
many staff "working on this matter will give up their Christmas and
New Year holidays this year".
The agreement was initially due to run for six months from January
but first extended in July and again in November.
The IAEA accepted contributions totaling 6.5 million euros in
January and July to cover its extra Iran-related costs.
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