ElBaradei asks Iran to accept nuke checks

The watchdog's board members have already received copies of a harsh report on Iran by Intern-ational Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohammed ElBaradei and will discuss it during a board meeting running this week.

"The report points out that Iran has failed to report certain nuclear material and activities, and that corrective actions are being taken in co-operation with the Iranian authorities," ElBaradei said in a speech to the board.

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ElBaradei also called on Iran to sign an Additional Protocol with the IAEA to grant inspectors wider access and more intrusive, short-notice inspections in order to be able to provide credible assurances about Iran's atomic plans.

A spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Organization told Reuters that Tehran might be willing to sign it, though he reiterated Iran's demands for access to nuclear technology in exchange for the government's signature.