Dubai: Bowing to international pressure to clarify its nuclear programme, Iran on October 21 said it will sign an additional protocol to the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT), suspend Uranium enrichment, allow tougher UN inspections and promised full cooperation with the UN's nuclear watchdog.

At a joint press conference in Tehran with Foreign Ministers of France Dominique de Villepin, Britain's Jack Straw and Germany's Joschka Fischer, the Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Hassan Rowhani said, "Tehran will sign the Additional Protocol with certain conditions".

"Tehran is determined to settle the remaining issues with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in order to end the current tension in the field of its legitimate nuclear activities and to take the necessary measures to join the Additional Protocol as the 81st country," Rowhani said.

The announcement was the result of an intense diplomatic efforts launched by the three countries to defuse mounting tensions that have raised fears of yet another Mid East conflict.

According to a joint declaration, Iran pledged to show "full transparency" to the IAEA, reiterated its commitment to the NPT and vowed atomic weapons had "no place" in its Defence doctrine.

Referring to the conditions Iran set for signing the Additional Protocol, Rowhani said, "Iran will sign the protocol with some reservations", the official Iranian news agency IRNA quoted him as saying said.

"The protocol should not harm our national security, national interests and national dignity. We will issue a statement in which Iran's reservations for joining the Additional Protocol will be mentioned explicitly," he added.

"One of the agreements is that the Islamic Republic temporarily suspends Uranium enrichment process that Tehran will observe to show good will and to create a new atmosphere of trust between Iran and other countries," the SNSC secretary said.

"Getting access to peaceful nuclear technology is Iran's legitimate right and no one would be able to deprive the Iranian nation of its right," he said.

"We will temporarily suspend the Uranium enrichment process from the date we will announce only to show good will and build confidence," he further stated.

The declaration was hailed by the three Foreign Ministers of Britain, France and Germany.

"We are facing a major issue. Proliferation is a major challenge to the world, and today we found a solution to the pending issues," French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said.

Fischer said that the deal would help "stabilise" the region while Straw said the deal was "an important step forward".

Washington in September accused Iran of not complying with international non-proliferation accords but agreed to a proposal from Britain, France and Germany to give the country until the end of October to come clear on the issue.

PTI