The United States asked the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on Thursday to adopt a firm resolution on Iranian compliance.

"The United States has felt that it's important for the IAEA to continue its pressure on Iran to continue its investigation, its inspections, to continue finding things out this program," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said.

The United States has been concerned Iran may be seeking to develop a nuclear weapon under the cover of a civilian nuclear program, which Iran categorically denies.

Prior to the American statement, Britain, France and Germany proposed a draft resolution to IAEA Tuesday calling for a probe into Iran's suspected nuclear weapons program to be toughened and wrapped up in months.

Iranian President Mohammad Khatami warned Wednesday that Tehran could back away from key commitments if the IAEA took a hardline stand over its nuclear program, which Tehran says is solely for generating electric power.

(Xinhua News Agency June 18, 2004)