Iran resolves questions on plutonium tests--IAEA

VIENNA, Aug 27 (Reuters) Iran has resolved UN questions about tests with plutonium, a key fuel for atomic bombs, and the International Atomic Energy Agency considers the matter closed, according to the text of an IAEA-Iran accord released today.

It would be the first serious issue relating to the scope of Iran's disputed nuclear programme closed by the UN nuclear watchdog in a four-year investigation. The text listed a handful of other issues that Iran had pledged to settle by the end of the year.

Iran and the IAEA announced an agreement on Aug. 21 meant to resolve investigations into indications of illicit military diversions from Iran's declared drive for peaceful nuclear energy -- suspicions that helped lead to UN sanctions against Tehran.

Another goal is to ensure regular and effective access for IAEA inspectors to Iran's underground uranium enrichment plant where it plans industrial-scale production of nuclear fuel.

The various issues are to be resolved in sequence, one by one, at Iran's insistence, diplomats told Reuters earlier.

''Iran provided clarifications to the Agency that helped to explain the remaining questions on July 23. In addition, on Aug 7 Iran sent a letter to the Agency providing additional clarifications to some of the questions,'' the text said.

It said IAEA officials judged last week that earlier statements made by Iran were consistent with inspectors' findings ''and thus this matter is resolved. This will be communicated officially by the Agency to Iran through a letter''.

The document did not specify how the issue was settled.

ADVANCED CENTRIFUGES It also said Iran undertook to clarify its research and development of advanced P-2 centrifuges, able to enrich uranium two to three times as fast as the antiquated P-1 model it was now using, with November as the target date for closure of the issue.

On the issue of particles of bomb-grade uranium found in Tehran's Technical University, the IAEA would pose remaining questions to Iran in mid-September and the two sides would try to settle the issue once the centrifuge matter was closed.

Iran had also agreed to help the IAEA closely examine a black-market document in its possession describing how to machine uranium metal into hemispheres suitable for the core of a bomb, the text said.

The IAEA ''undertakes to close this issue'', the agreement text said, but gave no deadline.

Once the previous issues were closed, Iran would explain the intent of past experiments with polonium which, combined with beryllium, could be used to create a neutron trigger device for a nuclear weapon. Polonium has civilian applications as well.

Iran had further agreed, ''as a sign of goodwill and cooperation'', to examine Western intelligence about secret, administrative links between uranium processing, high explosives tests and a missile warhead design, the text said.

Iran had previously rejected the information as ''politically motivated and baseless allegations''.

A final issue entailed activity at the Ghachine uranium mine that appeared to be owned by the Iranian military, even though Tehran has insisted its nuclear programme is wholly civilian, designed to generate electricity.

''These ... cover all remaining issues and the Agency confirmed that there are no other remaining issues and ambiguities regarding Iran's past nuclear programme and activities,'' the agreement text read.

Reuters RKM VP0150