IAEA reaches consensus on Iran's nuclear issue

IAEA member countries reached consensus Thursday on a draft resolution written by Germany, France and Britain about Iran's nuclear program and it will be submitted Friday to the IAEA board of governors for approval.

Diplomats said the amended text is based on a report written by Mohamed ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The new resolution expressed its "regret" over Iran's incomplete cooperation with the UN atomic watchdog, but it did not set up a deadline when Iran fully opens its nuclear activity to public.

ElBaradei told reporters Thursday the IAEA had no concrete proof that Iran's nuclear activity has a military purpose, but could not prove "this is exclusively for peaceful purposes." He urged Iran for more "proactive cooperation and transparency."

The IAEA board of governors started a week-long meeting here on June 14, centering on Iran's nuclear issue and examining the implementation of accords concerning the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

On June 15, Germany, France and Britain submitted a draft resolution praising Iran for cooperation with the IAEA and encouraging it to continue to cooperate with the UN nuclear agency.

On Thursday the IAEA acknowledged that it made a mistake in a report on Iran's nuclear program. But Diplomats said the mistake did not affect most of the IAEA member countries to evaluate Iran's nuclear program and the draft resolution.