13 January 2004	Tuesday	20 Ziqa'ad 1424

TEHRAN, Jan 12: European Foreign Policy chief Javier Solana on Monday applauded Iran's efforts to dispel international concerns it may be developing nuclear weapons.

Tehran insists its nuclear programme is solely geared to producing electricity from atomic power and last month signed an international protocol which permits UN inspectors to carry out snap checks of its nuclear facilities.

In a deal hammered out with the foreign ministers of Britain, Germany and France in October, Iran has also suspended its uranium enrichment activities and admitted to an 18-year cover-up of sensitive nuclear research.

"The Iranian authorities have undertaken commitments and we'd like to see continuous cooperation," Solana told a news conference at the start of a two-day visit to Iran. "We still have to clarify some things but we're in a very good and constructive mood of cooperation," he said.-Reuters