TEHRAN: A new report by the UN atomic watchdog validates Iran’s progress in its “peaceful” nuclear activities despite international sanctions, the country’s envoy to the agency said yesterday.

The International Atomic Energy Agency’s report said Iran had accelerated the installation of advanced uranium enrichment equipment at its central Natanz plant, and was potentially opening up a second route to developing the bomb.

Ali Asghar Soltanieh, speaking to Fars news agency in Vienna, where the IAEA is based, said the report was proof of Iran’s “technical and scientific success.”

It also showed there was “no evidence of diversion in nuclear material and activities toward military purposes” and that “all the centrifuges and each gram of uranium are under the supervision of the agency,” he said. In its report issued on Wednesday, the IAEA outlined further progress at a reactor under construction at Arak, in central Iran.

The IAEA report showed Iran has so far produced 324 kg of 20-percent enriched uranium, 44 kg more than three months ago, but that 140.8 kg had been diverted to fuel production, up from 111 kg.

Experts say about 240-250 kg are needed for one bomb.

Separately, Iran denied yesterday that one of its drones had violated the airspace of Bahrain, Iranian media reported.

Bahrain’s Information Minister Samira Rajab told Reuters yesterday that an unmanned spy drone was found in the Gulf waters.