VIENNA - World powers urged Iran on Wednesday to cooperate fully with the UN atomic agency to help resolve concerns about possible military aspects of the Islamic state's disputed nuclear program.
In a joint statement issued at a board meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the six powers made clear they remained ready for talks with Iran to find a diplomatic solution to the row over its nuclear work.
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The statement was an apparent bid to underline unity between the six powers -- the United States, Germany, France, Russia, Britain and China -- on the issue after their talks with Iran in December and January failed to make any progress.
It was issued two days after IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano, on the first day of the board meeting, said information the agency recently received added to concerns about possible military aspects to Iran's atomic activities.
Amano voiced growing frustration at what the Vienna-based body sees as
Iran's failure to address allegations it may be working to develop a
nuclear-armed missile.
The statement by the six powers said:
"Outstanding issues need to be resolved in order to exclude the
existence of possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear program."
Iran
denies Western accusations it is seeking nuclear weapons capability,
saying its atomic activities are aimed at generating electricity so it
can export more of its oil and gas.