Tehran  - In initial reaction to the latest report by the United Nations nuclear watchdog on Iran's nuclear activities, Tehran said Wednesday it had no problems with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspection of its nuclear sites as long as they are made within the framework of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

"We have enabled the IAEA access to our nuclear sites in line with NPT and the accord with the IAEA and the same trend will also be continued in the future," Mohammad Saeidi, the deputy head of the Iranian Atomic Organization, told the official news agency IRNA.

Vienna  - The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Wednesday it had not been able to make any progress on clarifying whether Iran had conducted research that was related to developing nuclear bombs.

In his latest report on Iran to IAEA member states, Director General Mohamed ElBaradei said that "regrettably, as a result of the lack of cooperation by Iran in connection with the alleged studies and other associated key remaining issues of serious concern, the Agency has not been able to make substantive progress on these issues."

The report, which was also submitted to the United Nations Security Council in New York, showed that Iran is close to completing the installation of nearly 6,000 centrifuges.

Vienna - The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Wednesday it had not been able to make any progress on clarifying whether Iran had conducted research that was related to developing nuclear bombs.

In his latest report on Iran to IAEA member states, Director General Mohamed ElBaradei said that "regrettably, as a result of the lack of cooperation by Iran in connection with the alleged studies and other associated key remaining issues of serious concern, the Ageny has not been able to make substantive progress on these issues."

Baghdad - Iraq has told Iran that its security pact with the United States would not threaten Iran's national sovereignty, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said on Tuesday.

"The security agreement has no articles that threaten the security of neighbouring countries," Zebari said in a statement following his meeting with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Kazemi.

"Iraq will not be used as a base for attacks on neighbouring countries," Zebari added.

Baghdad - Iraq has told Iran that its security pact with the US would not threaten Iran's national sovereignty, Iraq's foreign minister said on Tuesday.

"The security agreement has no articles that threaten the security of neighbouring countries," Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari said in a statement following his meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Hassan Kazemi, according to a ministry statement.

"Iraq will not be used as a base for attacks on neighbouring countries," Zebari added.

Zebari and US Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker signed the Status of Forces Agreement in Baghdad on Monday.

Tehran - US military forces should leave Iraq earlier than
scheduled in the new security pact between the two countries, Iran's
Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said Tuesday.

"According to the pact, the US forces would leave Iraq until 2011
but considering the capability of the Iraqi government (to run the
country by itself), the withdrawal of the US forces should be made
sooner," the speaker said.

"The proposal by the newly elected US president (Barack Obama) to
withdraw the forces within 16 months is more suitable," Larijani added.