The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a confidential report that "no evidence" has been found so far that Iran has plans to develop nuclear weapons, diplomats said here on Monday.

"To date there is no evidence that the previously undeclared nuclear material and activities were related to a nuclear weapons program," said the diplomats. They were citing a report drawn up by IAEA chief Mohamed ElBaradei for the Nov. 20 meeting of the agency's board of governors.

The report credited Iran with "active cooperation and openness," following the last board meeting in September which gave Iran an Oct. 31 deadline to clear up international suspicions about its nuclear ambitions.

But the report said Iran's recent disclosures "clearly show that in the past, Iran has concealed many aspects of its nuclear activities, which resulted in breaches of its obligations of the safeguard agreement."

ElBaradei confirmed on Monday that Iran has handed over a letter making clear its intention to sign an additional protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which will permit tougher and snap inspections by the UN nuclear watchdog.

On the same day, at a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Hassan Rowhani said Iran is suspending its uranium enrichment program.

(Xinhua News Agency November 11, 2003)