Beyond that, he would not specify what type of research Tehran planned but claimed its nuclear program had suffered significantly during the research suspension. He said Iran could no longer keep its research scientists in limbo.
Iran has said it remains determined, at some point, to resume uranium enrichment, a process that can produce fuel for nuclear weapons.
The announcement yesterday, while vague, was certain to raise further concerns in the United States and among its European allies who believe Iran wants to build a nuclear arsenal. Tehran says its nuclear program is for electricity generation.
ElBaradei also called on Iran to ''build confidence and enable the resumption of dialogue with all concerned parties."
The Iranian mission to the IAEA said Tehran has decided to resume from Feb. 9 research and development ''on the peaceful nuclear energy program which has been suspended," ElBaradei told the agency's board.
A European diplomat accredited to the agency said it was too early to evaluate the significance of the move and whether it would scuttle talks planned for later this month.
The EU has said that any decision by Iran to resume work on its uranium enrichment program would be ''the red line" that would end European attempts to negotiate differences with Iran.
Furthermore, the EU has said a resumption of work on the program would revive attempts to take Iran to the UN Security Council for violating the nuclear nonproliferation treaty.
But the diplomat, who demanded anonymity because he was not authorized to publicly discuss European Union strategy, said the Europeans needed details of precisely what Iran planned to research before making a decision on future talks.
Iran has vowed it will never give up the right to produce nuclear fuel, which it says is guaranteed by the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty.
