IAEA chief says Iran nuclear program advances despite sanctions

                 
Iran is making "steady progress" in expanding its nuclear program despite international sanctions that do not seem to be slowing it down, the U.N. nuclear agency chief told Reuters on Monday.       

Yukiya Amano, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), also said he remained committed to dialogue with Iran to address concerns of possible military dimensions to its nuclear activity. But no new meeting had yet been set after 10 rounds of talks since early 2012, he said.      

For its part, Britain said it hoped the new Iranian government would make efforts to reach a negotiated settlement on its nuclear program following the election of Hassan Rohani.        

British foreign secretary William Hague said efforts to reach a settlement would be met "in good faith" by Britain, adding that Iran should not doubt British resolve to prevent nuclear proliferation.        

Earlier, the European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said she will continue to urge Iran to build confidence in its nuclear program after the election of moderate cleric Hassan Rohani as its new president.        

"Now we will wait for the establishment of the new government, I will continue with my work to urge Iran to work closely with me and the European community to build confidence in the nature of a nuclear program," Ashton told reporters during a visit to Baghdad.         


REUTERS