Summary The IAEA will play a key role in monitoring Iran's nuclear activities.
WASHINGTON (AFP) - With tricky implementation of the Iran nuclear deal now beginning, President Barack Obama on Wednesday nominated a senior White House advisor as the US envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Obama named Laura Holgate -- a special assistant responsible for weapons of mass destruction, terrorism and threat reduction -- to go to Vienna.
The IAEA will play a key role in monitoring Iran s nuclear activities under a deal that relieves Iran of sanctions in return for curbs on the country s enrichment activity.
Iran must report on the possible military dimensions of its past nuclear program to the IAEA by mid-October.
The Austria-based organization will decide whether a full accounting has been made in order for an initial batch of sanctions to be lifted.
Holgate has previously played a key role behind the scenes preparing the Nuclear Security Summit, which Obama has strongly backed, and was involved in efforts to destroy Syria s chemical weapons stockpile.
"Laura has spent her career building and leading global coalitions to prevent states and terrorists from acquiring and using weapons of mass destruction" National Security Advisor Susan Rice said in a statement.
Holgate will have to be confirmed by the Senate, a tricky task given the Republican majority s opposition to the Iran deal.
