France and Russia yesterday reaffirmed calls for Iran to sign up to tough UN nuclear inspections amid suspicions that the Islamic republic is using its atomic energy programme to develop nuclear weapons.

"We share the same position on Iran.

It is up to Iran to restore confidence (in its nuclear programme), in particular by signing the additional protocol. I think this will happen soon," French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin told reporters after talks with Russian counterpart Igor Ivanov.

Ivanov said that Moscow was "in favour of broader cooperation between Iran and the IAEA (the International Atomic Energy Agency), through Iran's signature of the additional protocol".

Russia is building Iran's first nuclear power station, near the southern city of Bushehr.

The head of the UN's nuclear watchdog was due in Tehran overnight yesterday to press Iran to sign an additional protocol to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which would allow unconditional inspections of its nuclear facilities.

At present, Iran is only obliged to accept pre-arranged visits to sites it chooses to declare. - Sapa-AFP.