Russia: U.N. controls Iran's nuclear cycle

MOSCOW, Dec. 15 (UPI) -- Russia's deputy foreign minister said the International Atomic Energy Agency is in full control of Iran's contentious nuclear program.

"IAEA controls all nuclear activities in Iran," Sergei Kislyak said, RIA Novosti reported Saturday. "Iran will never obtain high enriched uranium … while IAEA is there."

Tehran agreed to full compliance with the U.N.'s nuclear watchdog agency in late August.

The United States suspects Iran of developing a nuclear weapons program, but Iran contends the program is solely for civilian energy production.

Mohammed ElBaradei, the head of the IAEA, said in an October report that Iran's nuclear program was transparent, but noted the Islamic Republic continued to develop its uranium enrichment technology.