"I urge Iran to implement all the transparency measures ... required to build confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear programme at the earliest possible date," ElBaradei told the International Atomic Energy Agency's general conference here.

"This will be good for Iran, good for the Middle East region and good for the whole world."

The IAEA has been investigating Tehran's controversial nuclear programe for the past six years, but has so far been unable to determine whether the activities are purely peaceful as Iran claims.

"Substantial progress has been made, especially regarding the scope and nature of Iran's uranium enrichment programme," ElBaradei said.

"We have been able to continue to verify the non-diversion of declared nuclear material in Iran."

However, the IAEA was "still not in a position to make progress regarding the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities in Iran," ElBaradei cautioned.

"Although Iran has so far produced only a limited quantity of low enriched uranium, which remains under agency safeguards, this is still a cause for concern for the international community in the absence of full clarity about Iran's past and present nuclear programme," ElBaradei said.

"This concern has been expressed by the board of governors and in a number of Security Council resolutions."

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