IAEA asks Iran to end its nuclear standoff

The UN atomic watchdog has asked Iran to end its nuclear standoff and said it is difficult to make any headways on 'remaining issues' in absence of 'lack of cooperation' by Tehran.

"That gives rise to concern about the possible military dimension of Iran's nuclear programme," said Mohamed ElBaradei, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

"Unless Iran implements the transparency measures and the Additional Protocol, as required by the Security Council, the agency will not be in a position to provide credible assurance about the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran," he told the agency's Board of Governors yesterday.

Iran maintains that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes including development of power sector but the Western nations believe that it is aimed at producing nuclear weapons.

ElBaradei said that in North Korea, the agency has continued to monitor and verify the shutdown status of the Yongbyon nuclear facilities.

All of the fuel rods discharged from the experimental reactor remain under agency containment and surveillance, he said.