New head of IAEA to assume office by Jan. 1

By Fatih Hafiz Mehmet

ANKARA (AA) - The UN nuclear watchdog announced on Thursday that its new director general will assume office by Jan. 1, 2020.

"Person appointed envisaged to assume office no later than 1 Jan 2020," International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a statement on Twitter.

The statement said the agency will receive nominations until Sept, 5, with the new director general is expected to be appointed in October and assume office no longer than Jan. 1.

Previous IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano had passed away on July 22 at the age of 72.

Amano had played an important role on negotiations regarding the Iran nuclear deal.

Romanian diplomat Cornel Feruta was designated as acting director general of the UN nuclear watchdog on July 25 ,until a new director general assumes office.