Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili said on Friday that the latest International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report showed that Iran's nuclear program is peaceful.

"Today's report is another proof that Iran was right in its past declarations about the nature of its nuclear activities... (and) shows that the activities are peaceful," Jalili told a press conference here.

The UN nuclear watchdog report also proved that allegations that Iran's atomic program is aimed at producing nuclear weapons are "baseless," he added.

"The victory is the result of resistance by the Iranian nation in insisting on its rights," Jalili said.

The Iranian chief nuclear negotiator stressed that cooperation between Iran and the IAEA had removed the ambiguities about Iran's nuclear program and Tehran would continue to cooperate with the UN nuclear watchdog.

He also asked some Western countries to give up the policy of confrontation and make the Iranian nuclear issue return to its "normal course" within the framework of the IAEA.

IAEA Director General Mohamed ElBaradei earlier Friday circulated his latest report on Iran's nuclear program to the Agency's Board of Governors.

"In the last four months, in particular, we have made quite good progress in clarifying the outstanding issues that had to do with Iran's past nuclear activities," ElBaradei said after the publication of his report.

However, he said that the progress is still not enough and the IAEA was still unable to give a definite verdict on Tehran's nuclear ambitions. "Iran in the past few months has provided us with visits to many places, that enable us to have a clearer picture of Iran's current program. However, that is not, in my view, sufficient," ElBaradei said.

Western countries accused Iran of using a civilian nuclear program as a cover to develop nuclear weapons, a charge repeatedly denied by Tehran.

The UN Security Council has adopted two resolutions -- one in December 2006 and the other in March of 2007 -- in attempts to force Iran to suspend uranium enrichment activities and to give up its nuclear programs.

France, Britain and Germany formally introduced to the UN Security Council Thursday a draft resolution that calls for further sanctions against Iran over its refusal to suspend sensitive nuclear enrichment activities.

Iran has downplayed the effect of possible new sanctions, saying Tehran would show a "serious and logical reaction" if the UN Security Council issues a third resolution.

(Xinhua News Agency February 23, 2008)