Iran Denies Any Nuclear Activity At Suspect Site Parchin

VIENNA (AFP) - Iran denied that it had carried out any nuclear-related activity at the Parchin military site which is the subject of US and UN concern.

"We categorically deny any nuclear-related testing at Parchin," a huge military complex 30 kilometres (19 miles) southeast of Tehran, Hossein Mousavian, head of Iran's delegation to a meeting of the UN nuclear watchdog in Vienna, told AFP.

Mousavian also denied reports that the watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, had asked to inspect the Parchin site.

"They did not request to go," he said, although he added that "if this is requested by the IAEA, we are fully ready to cooperate."

A diplomat close to the IAEA said late last week that the agency had asked to send inspectors to Parchin.

Iran says its nuclear program is strictly civilian and peaceful and that it is not developing atomic weapons.

However US officials insist the work at Parchin is being used by Tehran as cover for a clandestine nuclear weapons program.