UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon encouraged Iran Tuesday to be fully cooperative and transparent to implement the work plan with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). (Xinhua/AFP Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon encouraged Iran Tuesday to be fully cooperative and transparent to implement the work plan with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

    Addressing a press conference at the UN Headquarters in New York, Ban said "as a matter of principle, all the pending issues, whatever it may be, should be resolved through dialogue in a peaceful manner."

    "That is a very important principle which the United Nations is seeking," he emphasized.

    He encouraged Iran to be fully cooperative and transparent in dealing with the IAEA and to implement the work plan they have agreed with the IAEA.

    "I sincerely hope that this agreement between Iran and the IAEA will contribute to the final and overall settlement of the nuclear issue of Iran by fully complying with the relevant Security Council resolution," he said.

    Iran and the IAEA agreed on Aug. 21 on a working plan to clarify outstanding ambiguities over Tehran's nuclear program. However, some Western countries, including the United States, considered it as Iran's fresh trick to delay UN sanctions.