Vienna: An imminent report by the UN nuclear watchdog may show improved Iranian cooperation over its disputed nuclear activities, but many outstanding questions could still remain, diplomats here said today.
"We may well see some improved cooperation," one diplomat said on condition of anonymity. But it may simply be enough to muddy the waters a bit more - the diplomat added.
International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei was set to release the report later today.
Nevertheless, a number of diplomats were sceptical that all of the outstanding questions would be cleared up once and for all. And that could leave the door open to further UN sanctions against the Islamic republic.
The United Nations Security Council has been awaiting ElBaradei s report and another by the EU s foreign policy chief Javier Solana set to be released later this month.
If their findings are negative, the council may decide to impose a new third round of sanctions against Iran over its controversial nuclear drive.
The United States and some of its European allies are backing such a vote if the reports by Solana and ElBaradei show Tehran is failing to come clean on the true nature and extent of its nuclear activities.
An apparently encouraging sign of progress came last week when Iran handed over to the IAEA a document containing design information that could help to make nuclear weapon parts.
