On Tuesday, Iran said it was ready to allow teams from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to carry out surprise inspections of suspect facilities.

At the end of a visit by the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany, Iran announced it would allow tougher inspections of its nuclear facilities, provide full cooperation with the IAEA and suspend uranium enrichment.

Two days later Iran handed the IAEA a report with information about is controversial nuclear programme.

It did so a week before an IAEA deadline to allay international concerns over the programme or answer to the UN Security Council, expires on October 31.

By taking these steps Iran "satisfied the requests of the resolution" adopted September 12 by the IAEA that set October 31 as a deadline for Iran to come clean, diplomats said.

Iran may have contributed to avoiding a major diplomatic crisis in the short run but the future will depend on the IAEA's next report concerning Tehran's nuclear programme, the diplomats said.

Reformist daily Iran News praised Tehran and said the deal was the "clearest cut diplomatic victory for Iran" since the 1979 Islamic revolution, although for the hardline press these moves constituted a humiliating climbdown.

"The real work starts now" when the UN's nuclear watchdog will begin the tedious task of verifying the information received from Tehran, a diplomat said, echoing French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin's insistence that Iran's words be followed by deeds.

The IAEA board of governors meets on November 20 to decide whether Iran has fully answered the agency's questions about enriching uranium that could be weapons-grade and other possibly weapons-oriented programs.

Iran has promised to send the IAEA by then a letter signalling its intention to sign the protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty that would allow the inspections to get underway.

But first Iran will have to win nationwide acceptance for the IAEA inspections which may take inspectors to some of the most closely guarded sites, such as those of the hardline Revolutionay Guards.

Tehran insists that under the deal paving the way for these inspections it has won guarantees that its military files will remain top secret and some sources have said Iran was promised that the inspectors will keep a low profile.

The Europeans have also hinted at the possibility of cooperating with Iran in its nuclear programme.

Such a pledge and a recognition of Iran's right to peaceful nuclear activities are important for Tehran as it fights back against those accusing it of having bowed to the international community putting at stake its national sovereignty.

Hassan Rowhani, Iran's top national security official, who helped negotiate Tuesday's accord, has repeatedly said Tehran will not abandon enrichment activities for good.

While the West is waiting for Iran to sign the protocol that will pave the way for the inspections, officials have stressed that such a measure must first be submitted to parliament for approval and that this could take months.

On Saturday, Rohani said Iran had reached "100 percent" of its objectives in the discussions with Europe and described the breakthrough deal as a "snub" for the United States.

Nevertheless, Iranian officials, who have repeatedly denied that Tehran was seeking nuclear weapons, also say they will lie in waiting for Europe to make any false move.

WAR.WIRE