VIENNA, June 16 (RIA Novosti, Borislav Pechnikov) - The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) signed an agreement on limited inspections with Saudi Arabia at a session of the agency's council of managers, on Thursday.

A source in the nuclear watchdog summed up that Riyadh endured pressure from the US, the EU and Australia, which insisted that the IAEA hold thorough inspections of all nuclear programs and facilities in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia referred to "the small quantities protocol", which stipulated that IAEA conduct only limited periodical inspections in the countries that owned small amounts of radioactive substances. Countries which possess less than ten tons of natural uranium fall under the protocol.

However, IAEA Director General Mohamed Al-Baradei, who signed the agreement on limited inspections in Saudi Arabia, claimed the protocol "is evidence that the system of IAEA inspections of nuclear facilities and programs is inefficient in a number of states".

According to IAEA experts, small quantities of uranium are enough to produce enriched uranium and create nuclear weapons.