VIENNA, 7 March 2006 — The chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Mohamed El-Baradei, yesterday expressed hopes that an agreement could still be reached on the issue of Iran’s nuclear program in the coming few days or next week. He called on all parties to do their utmost to create conditions for holding talks.

El-Baradei expected the Iran nuclear file to be taken up by the Board of Governors this afternoon or tomorrow. The 35-member board will consider the report on Iran as well as many other issues regarding the peaceful use of nuclear technology.

Speaking to reporters hours before the board’s meeting yesterday, El-Baradei said: “The Agency has been working very hard in Iran for the last three years, making good progress in understanding the nature of the Iranian nuclear program.”

He added the UN nuclear watchdog had not seen indications of diversion of material to nuclear weapons or other explosive devices. But there were still a number of important questions his organization wants answered. “I express concern and regret that after three years we are still unable to clear all uncertainties. The picture is still hazy, not very clear, as to the scope and current nature of the Iranian nuclear program,” El-Baradei said.

“The other issue is confidence building. Iran is required to take precise measures to clarify uncertainties that are still there because of the undeclared nature of their program in the past.

“The board required Iran to take a number of confidence-building measures including suspension of enrichment related activities and ratifying the Add Protocol. Iran has started the centrifuge related research and development. They also said the Add Protocol will not be implemented at this stage although I have to say that we continue to get cooperation on the part of Iran, as matter of transparency. My deputy was in Iran, we are inching forward”, said El-Baradei.

The IAEA chief said he had asked Iran to be fully transparent. He described Iran’s nuclear program as special, and said: “We need to reconstruct the history of the undeclared program, we need to interview people, we need access to documents, we are getting some transparency but not to the extent we would expect it to be.”

Iran meanwhile promised harsh response to any foreign attack. It vowed to be a “killing field” for any attackers, responding to a US warning of “painful consequences” if it failed to curb its atomic plans.

US Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton said Sunday his country had been “beefing up defensive measures” to thwart Iran’s nuclear program, which the West suspects is a quest for atomic bombs, not just nuclear-generated electricity.

Gholamali Rashid, deputy head of the armed forces, said the United States did not understand how to operate in the Gulf region.

“Iran’s armed forces, through their experience of war... will turn this land into a killing field for any enemy aggressors,” the official IRNA news agency quoted him as saying.

Although the United States and Israel have said diplomacy is the best way forward, neither has ruled out military options.