TEHRAN, June 21: The head of Iran’s atomic energy programme said on Saturday his country was ready to cooperate more actively with the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency to dispel doubts about the Islamic republic’s nuclear ambitions.

“We will definitely try to cooperate more than before with the IAEA and give them the necessary assurances about Iran’s activities,” Gholamreza Aghazadeh told a news conference.

Aghazadeh said Iran was positive and optimistic about reaching an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency on an additional protocol, which the UN agency has asked Iran to sign to allow more intrusive inspections and at short notice.

“Naturally, the way we will choose is the way of cooperation and reaching an acceptable settlement for both sides,” he said.

He also told the newsmen that Iran was ready to discuss the general issue of environmental samples with the IAEA.

On Saturday Aghazadeh said Iran would not allow UN inspectors to take samples at an alleged nuclear plant, as US warned it wil use force to stop Tehran making atomic weapons.—Reuters