MUNICH: Iran’s claims to be close to an agreement on its nuclear programme have yet to be backed up by any concrete actions, Western officials said today at a gathering of the world’s top defence officials.

US and European officials rejected statements from Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki late yesterday that Tehran was “approaching a final agreement.” Mottaki assured delegates that Iran was “serious” about making progress, pointing out that Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad earlier this week suggested he would agree to export uranium for processing.

But German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle dismissed Mottaki’s comments as nothing new.

“If it’s not more than we heard yesterday, then have to say unfortunately this is not a new transparency,” Westerwelle said. “It does not mean there is a change — that is the situation and we have to face it.”