TEHRAN, July 9: UN atomic energy chief Mohamed ElBaradei ended talks here Wednesday with an agreement from Tehran to work with his agency to study the prospect of allowing tougher inspections of its nuclear programme.

“We have not discussed a timeframe for signing the protocol, but we agreed that a team of experts would come to Iran to discuss with Iran the areas that Iran needs clarification on,” ElBaradei told reporters.

“I hope that once these issues have been clarified, Iran will be in a position to sign the protocol. But naturally that is a decision for the Iranian government to make.”

The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) held a day of talks aimed at convincing Iran to allow rigorous inspections by signing, ratifying and implementing an additional protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

That would grant his teams the power to make surprise visits to suspect facilities in Iran. At present, the Islamic republic is only obliged to accept pre-arranged visits to sites it chooses to declare.

“Confidence takes time to build,” ElBaradei said after what he classed as “open, direct and constructive” talks with President Mohammad Khatami, Foreign Minister Kamal Kharazi and Iran’s atomic chief Gholam-Reza Aghazadeh.

“I think we need to start with the protocol and clarify all the outstanding issues,” he added.

“This is in the interests of Iran, because the more confidence we create the more normalisation there will be between Iran and the rest of the world,” said the IAEA chief.

Aghazadeh said his body would “prepare a report on the additional protocol”, for which IAEA expert help was needed.

“Then the government will take the necessary decision,” Iran’s atomic energy chief added, saying he was “certain that cooperation with the IAEA will bring very good results”.

Iran denies United States accusations that it is using an atomic energy programme as a cover for nuclear weapons development.

But Tehran has said it would only consider signing the protocol if other NPT signatories met their obligations relating to the transfer of civil nuclear technology. Only Russia is aiding Iran’s bid to generate nuclear power.

ElBaradei said Iran had to take the first step.

“We do what we can within our power to assist member countries in the development of their nuclear activities, but bilateral relationships for the supply of nuclear technology is a matter for supplier states,” he said, noting that Iran’s activities were arousing strong suspicions.—AFP