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IAEA gives mixed verdict on Iranian cooperation

The UN atomic agency's chief delivered a mixed verdict on Iran's commitment to prove it does not want to make nuclear weapons, amid US-European differences on whether Tehran is living up to its pledge to fully open its nuclear dossier to world perusal.

The International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) director-general, Mohamed ElBaradei, on Monday described both Iran and Libya -- which has acknowledged having a weapons program and has pledged to scrap it -- as being in violation of the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.

While praising Tehran for some cooperation, he said he was "seriously concerned" about Iran's refusal to declare plans and parts for an advanced uranium enrichment system, calling it a ``setback to Iran's stated policy of transparency.''

Only Iran remains in the spotlight, with Libya apparently keeping pledges to dismantle its weapons program.

Washington, which is convinced that Tehran once wanted to make nuclear weapons and continues to harbor secrets, seeks tough language to dominate any resolution that might be adopted by the IAEA's 35-nation board of governors.

But Germany, Britain and France seek to stress Iran's progress in unveiling nuclear activities and cooperating with IAEA inspectors since the discovery last year of a secret uranium enrichment program and covert tests that could be applied toward making weapons.
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