US urges Iran to comply with UN nuclear agency

The United States said yesterday Iran must comply with the UN nuclear watchdog agency's demands meant to ensure Tehran does not develop nuclear weapons.

"Iran needs to comply. Otherwise the world will conclude that Iran may be producing nuclear weapons," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer told reporters travelling with the president on a visit to Minneapolis.

President George W. Bush on Wednesday had urged the international community to make clear to Iran that "we will not tolerate" construction of a nuclear weapon.

The White House welcomed yesterday's statement from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that reprimanded Tehran for failing to meet UN safeguard obligations.

The IAEA board called on Iran to "continue to be transparent" and to accept without delay or conditions more intrusive, short-notice inspections to dispel suspicions that it is using its nuclear power programme to secretly develop atomic weapons.

The United States has accused Iran of planning to make nuclear weapons but Tehran has denied the charge.

"The president welcomes this report. It is international reinforcement of the president's message yesterday that the world, broadly speaking, joins together in fighting proliferation and making certain that Iran does not develop nuclear weapons," Fleischer said.

"If Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons, why wouldn't they cooperate fully and completely with the IAEA?" he asked.