Mohamed El Baradei, director general of the UN International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said Monday that Iran and Libya had failed to fulfill their obligations under the international nuclear safeguards agreements of the 1970 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).  

"In view of many years of violation of non-proliferation obligations by Libya and Iran, I am asking for the provision of information and a full measure of transparency," El Baradei said at a meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors.

"I am seriously concerned that Iran's October declaration did not include any reference to its possession of P2 centrifuge designs and related research and development which in my view was a setback to Iran's stated policy of transparency," he said.

According to the UN nuclear watchdog's recent report on Iran, IAEA inspectors had unearthed designs and parts for the advanced P2 uranium enrichment centrifuge, capable of producing weapons-grade uranium, and also discovered experiments for manufacturing plutonium and polonium which can be used in nuclear weapons.

The Iranian delegation to the IAEA insisted on Monday that Iran was providing full disclosure of its nuclear program to the UN watchdog.

"Iran intended to submit information on R&D (research and development) of P2 along with further declarations it is required to provide in accordance with its obligations under the additional protocol within the timetable established by the IAEA," the delegation said in a statement.

In an effort to dispel suspicion over its nuclear program, Iran signed an additional protocol to the NPT last December allowing unfettered UN inspections to its nuclear facilities.

Hassan Rohani, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said Sunday that the IAEA should close its 13-month investigation into Iran's atomic program.

"The case concerning Iran's peaceful nuclear activities should be completely closed by the IAEA Board of Governors and removed from its agenda," he said on state television.

Responding to Rohani's call, El Baradei said the issue will be removed from the board only when all the unresolved questions are answered.

(Xinhua News Agency March 9, 2004)