"Recent developments regarding the proactive cooperation of the Islamic Republic of Iran with the International Atomic Energy Agency, which led to a mutual understanding, is an essential step towards a peaceful resolution of the nuclear issue," acting Petroleum Minister Gholamhossein Nozari told journalists.

"This proves Iran's political will for the promotion of peace, which undoubtedly has a positive impact on the stability of the energy market," he added before the general conference of the Organisation of Petroleum-Exporting Countries.

Iran has agreed a timetable to clear up outstanding questions with the IAEA but the agency's director stressed Monday that Tehran must still suspend uranium enrichment, at a meeting of the IAEA's 35-member board of governors, also meeting in the Austrian capital this week.

All rights reserved. � 2005 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.