当国际原子能机构在判定一国是否正在从事秘密核武器计划时，该机构检查人员常常感到力不从心，这或是因为他们缺乏进入被其认为是必须检查的场所的法律权威，或是因为国际原子能机构的分析实验室已经过时，又或是因为该机构无法获取充足的卫星图片。
When it comes to determining whether or not a country is conducting a covert nuclear weapons program, IAEA inspectors often have their hands tied, either because they lack the legal authority to gain access to all the locations they consider necessary, or because the IAEA’s analytical laboratories are outdated, or because the Agency does not have adequate access to satellite imagery.