Tuesday, May 3 2005 13:55 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: Asking Iran not the restart its nuclear fuel enrichment, the UN nuclear watchdog chief has demanded global moratorium on uranium enrichment and reprocessing of fuel to produce plutonium.

"Without question, improving control of facilities capable of producing weapons-usable material will go a long way towards establishing a better margin of security," head of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency Mohamed ElBaradei said yesterday (May 2, 2005) at the month-long Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) review meet.

Asking Tehran and European Union to (EU) keep their talks alive, ElBaradei said, "I hope that both parties will continue to talk... Iranians will not to take any unilateral decision to initiate any activities that now are currently suspended."

Iran denies that its nuclear programme is aimed at producing weapons and asserts it is meant to provide much needed electricity to the country.

"There is no incompatibility between tightening controls over the nuclear fuel cycle and expanding the use of peaceful nuclear technology. In fact, by reducing the risks of proliferation, we could pave the way for more widespread use of peaceful nuclear applications," he said.

While the custodians of the NPT may hold differing priorities and views, "I trust that all share these two goals: development for all through advanced technology; and security for all by 'reducing and ultimately eliminating' the nuclear threat." he said.

"If we cannot work together, then the result of this Conference will be inaction," he told the delegates from 183 countries who are party to the 35-year old treaty.