Iran providing greater transparency over n-programme: IAEA

Iran is cooperating with the UN nuclear watchdog "substantively" in clarifying its disputed nuclear programme, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) told its board members here Monday.

A report presented by IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano to the board of governors' meeting said Iran was providing greater transparency to the agency, including clarification of elements related to the so-called possible military dimensions (PMDs) in Iran's nuclear plan, Xinhua reported.

IAEA has long been worried about Tehran's nuclear ambitions and has been asking Tehran to address its concerns.

However, Iran insists the fear is baseless, adding it would never abandon its nuclear right in pursuing a peaceful nuclear plan.

Based on a milestone deal agreed last November between Iran and the IAEA, Iran agreed to resolve all remaining issues in its nuclear programme, and has been cooperating with the agency since.

The IAEA said Iran had implemented seven practical measures to improve the transparency of its programme, including providing information on exploding bridge wire (EBW) detonators, which could be used in developing nuclear weapons but also have civilian applications.

The UN nuclear watchdog is still assessing the EBW detonators information provided by Tehran.

On the diplomatic front, talks between Iran and the P5+1 group - Britain, China, France, Russia, the US plus Germany - also reached a landmark deal in Geneva last November, under which Iran agreed to freeze some controversial nuclear activities in six months in exchange for a limited of Western sanctions.

The landmark deal is designed to buy time for negotiations on a final, long-term solution to the decade-old dispute.