The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Vienna

Iran continues to defy UN demands to suspend uranium enrichment and has yet to disprove allegations that it was pursuing nuclear power for military use, the UN atomic watchdog said on Monday.

In a confidential new report on Tehran's controversial atomic drive, a copy of which was obtained by AFP, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) complained that Iran had made little real progress on one of the most important issues still outstanding, the so-called "alleged studies". The studies allegedly carried out by Iran suggest it may have been trying to develop a nuclear warhead and also involve a process of uranium conversion, high explosives testing and a missile re-entry vehicle.

Iran has repeatedly dismissed reports that it conducted such studies as "baseless" and says the intelligence they are based on was "forged".

The IAEA insists, however, that Iran must actively disprove the allegations if it wants to convince the international community that its nuclear drive is purely peaceful. "Substantive explanations are required from Iran to support its statements on the alleged studies and on other information with a possible military dimension," the report insisted.

"The alleged studiest remain a matter of serious concern. Clarification of these is critical to an assessment of the nature of Iran's past and present nuclear programme.

The IAEA "is of the view that Iran may have additional information, in particular on high explosives testing and missile-related activities, which could shed more light on the nature of these alleged studies and which Iran should share with the agency," the report said.