United Nations envoy Martti Ahtisaari (R) talks to the director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohamed ElBaradei in Vienna February 22, 2007.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)          Photo Gallery>>>

    VIENNA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohamed ElBaradei sent his report on Iran's compliance with demands that it halt sensitive nuclear fuel work, to the 35-nation Board of Governors as well as to the UN Security Council, diplomats at IAEA told Xinhua on Thursday.

    ElBaradei said in his report that Iran had refused to suspend its uranium-enrichment related activities as demanded by the UN Security Council.

    In the eagerly awaited report, ElBaradei also said that due to the Islamic republic's lack of cooperation, IAEA was still unable to make further progress in its efforts to verify fully the past development of Iran's nuclear program.

    Furthermore, the report confirmed that Iran had already installed two cascades of 164 centrifuges in its Natanz enrichment plant, to expand research-level enrichment into industrial scale, and it is said another two cascades were close to completion in Iran.

    "It has also continued with the construction of the Fuel Enrichment Plant, including installation of cascades, and has transferred UF-6 to the plant," said the report.

    And it also said that without more cooperation and transparency from the Islamic republic, the IAEA will be unlikely to realize the peaceful goal in the future.

    As soon as received the widely expected report, the United States voiced disappointment on Thursday, and White House national security spokesman Gordon Johndroe said "we are disappointed that Iran has not complied with resolution 1737."

    Earlier in the day exactly before the report was released, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said during his official visit in Vienna that he was "deeply concerned that the Iranian government did not meet the deadline set by the Security Council."

    And he emphasized that "the Iranian government should fully cooperate with the Security Council" as soon as possible.

    Moreover, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Thursday that the international community would continue to press Iran to stop its nuclear activities.

    "We reconfirmed that we will use our available channels and the Security Council to try and achieve that goal," Rice was quoted assaying after a breakfast meeting in Berlin with the foreign ministers of Germany and Russia and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana.

    However, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad pledged on Wednesday that his country would continue its nuclear program, in defiance to the due UN deadline for Tehran to suspend its uranium enrichment.

    "The enemy is making a big mistake if it thinks it can thwart the will of the Iranian nation to achieve the peaceful use of nuclear technology," Ahmadinejad was quoted by state TV's Web site as saying Wednesday ahead of the 60-day deadline.

    The Security Council Resolution 1737 adopted last December 23 gave the Islamic republic 60-day deadline to halt enrichment or face additional measures, such as further financial sanctions and tougher travel ban.

    Related:

    U.S. urges Security Council to impose sanctions against Iran

    WASHINGTON, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- The United States on Thursday reiterated its call for the United Nations Security Council to take more measures to force Iran to give up its nuclear program.

    The U.S. position is that the Security Council should convene to take additional steps beyond those approved last December, State Department Deputy spokesman Tom Casey said. 

    Iran reiterates refusal to halt enrichment despite IAEA report, U.S. warning

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad refused to suspend the country's uranium enrichment activities on Tuesday, just one day before a UN Security Council deadline which demanded Tehran to do so or may face more severe sanctions.  (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    TEHRAN, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Iran reiterated its refusal to halt uranium enrichment on Thursday, a day after the deadline set bythe United Nations (UN), regardless of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohamed ElBaradei's report on its defiance and Washington's warning of further punishment.

    "Iran considers that a suspension of uranium is contradictory to its rights, the (Nuclear) Non-Proliferation Treaty and to international regulations," said deputy chief of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Mohammad Saeedi, the official IRNA news agency reported.

    UN chief "deeply concerned" about Iranian nuclear issue

    VIENNA, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said on Thursday that he was "deeply concerned" about Iranian nuclear issue before the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)is set to release a report on the issue.

    "I'm deeply concerned that the Iranian government did not meet the deadline set by the Security Council," Ban said at a press conference in Vienna.