Visiting Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohamed ElBaradei said in Cairo on Sunday the UN nuclear watchdog was making "good progress" in finishing outstanding issues on Iran's nuclear file.

 

ElBaradei, who is expected to issue a report around February 20 on his visit to Iran and IAEA's inquiry into Iran's nuclear activity, made the remarks following talks with Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa.

 

ElBaradei called on the oil-rich country to fully cooperate with the international nuclear agency to make broader inspections on its present nuclear program.

 

The IAEA chief stressed the importance of holding multilateral negotiations between Iran and the international community in order to disperse many Western countries' fear of Iran's nuclear program.

 

Some western countries have alleged that Iran was using the cover of a civilian nuclear program to develop nuclear weapons, which was repeatedly denied by Tehran.

 

The UN Security Council has adopted two resolutions – one in December 2006 and the other in March of 2007 – to force Iran to suspend uranium enrichment activities and to give up its nuclear programs. However, the resolutions were called "useless paper" by Iranian officials.

 

World powers have agreed on the outline of a third sanction resolution against Iran and the Security Council has held discussions on it.

 

Iran has downplayed the effect of possible new sanctions, saying Tehran would show "serious and logical reaction" if the Security Council issued a third resolution.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 4, 2008)