The International Atomic Energy Agency is "sending a team of experts who will be arriving October 15 to visit Brazil to look at possible verification approaches for this facility," IAEA spokesman Mark Gwozdecky told reporters. He was correcting his previous report that the experts would be arriving October 18.

The Brazilian science and technology ministry has reportedly said Brazil has reached a deal with the IAEA over access, but Gwozdecky said: "We've made some progress but we remain in discussions with the Brazilian authorities on this issue."

A Western diplomat close to the IAEA said no deal has been struck in the affair that comes as the IAEA is cracking down on Iran over an alleged nuclear weapons program.

The US government said in April that it was confident Brazil was not seeking to develop nuclear weapons.

"It's a very sensitive subject but I believe our government has a terrific amount of confidence in Brazil," said assistant secretary of state for the Western Hemisphere Roger Noriega.

Non-proliferation specialists say that if the United States and IAEA do not act to curtail Brazil's program, or at least insist on inspections, it could undermine White House calls for Iran and North Korea to halt their efforts to enrich uranium.

Brazil, which has one of the world's largest uranium reserves, denied IAEA inspectors access in February and March to a uranium-enriching facility in Resende, in the state of Rio de Janeiro, saying it wanted to protect industry trade secrets.

IAEA director general Mohamed ElBaradei has said Brazil should not be an exception to IAEA norms.

Uranium enrichment makes fuel for civilian reactors but can also be used to make the explosive core of atomic bombs. The IAEA is mandated by the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to make sure member states do not divert nuclear material for military purposes.

"It's all about visual access but not too much visual access," the diplomat said, adding the IAEA would have to place cameras at the plant to monitor the enrichment activities and make sure nuclear materials are not being diverted.

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