During a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-member Board of Governors, Mohamed ElBaradei discussed a recent report on Iran's compliance with nuclear non-proliferation safeguards.
"It is regrettable that we have not made the progress we had hoped for with respect to the one remaining major issue, namely a clearing up of a range of allegations, as well as the Secretariat's questions concerning a possible military dimension to Iran?s nuclear program," ElBaradei said.
The current row over Iran's nuclear program between Tehran and the West began almost six years ago over suspicions that the Islamic Republic was secretly developing atomic weapons. Iran has always maintained that it has the right to peaceful nuclear power. The country has so far defied three rounds of relatively mild UN Security Council sanctions over its nuclear program.
Iran also says that it has never been involved in research into the development of nuclear weapons. A report by the U.S. intelligence community released in late 2007 said that the Islamic Republic had halted its attempt to create a nuclear bomb in 2003.
ElBaradei stressed that the International Atomic Energy Agency continued to receive "information and explanations" from Iran, but that the Islamic Republic had not agreed to implement measures that would clear up "allegations and questions."
"Iran has not granted the agency access to those documents and individuals requested by the Secretariat, nor has it provided the substantive explanations required to support its statements" said ElBaradei.
The nuclear chief added it had now been more than five years since the agency began its current attempt to verify the true nature of Iran?s nuclear program.
He said that while substantial progress had been made in clarifying many of its aspects, particularly with regard to Iran?s uranium enrichment program, it was essential that the agency be able to reach a conclusion regarding the nature of Iran?s nuclear program as soon as possible.
"This depends primarily on Iran demonstrating the necessary transparency and providing full disclosure. I again urge Iran to be completely forthcoming in this regard," he added.
He also urged Tehran to ratify the IAEA's Additional Protocol, which allows snap inspections of Iranian nuclear facilities.
