VIENNA — The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says he would like to see his agency more involved in damage control from any future nuclear disaster, in comments prompted by criticism of the IAEA’s role in the Fukushima accident.

The agency was criticized by some member states and in Japan for taking what was perceived to be a too passive role in trying to manage the March 11 Fukushima disaster. In an interview with The Associated Press, Amano suggested he would like to increase the IAEA’s future profile.
Amano, who departs on Sunday for Japan for talks with government officials and a tour of the stricken reactor, said that the main role of the IAEA in such a situation would remain sharing verified information with member states and coordinating assistance.
But he added that in the wake of the Japanese nuclear catastrophe at the Fukushima Daiichi plant, “the expectation was very high” on his agency “to shape the analysis of scenarios” from an unfolding nuclear crisis with the goal of mitigating its consequences.