"Serious concern was expressed over Iran's nuclear programme and that State party was strongly urged to comply with all the requirements in the UN Security Council resolutions 1737 and 1747 and the relevant resolutions of the IAEA Board of Governors without further delay," the chair's "factual summary" said.

The UN watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency as well as the Security Council have called on Iran the cease uranium enrichment, which is used to make nuclear reactor fuel but also atom bomb material. Tehran has also been asked to comply with NPT safeguards against the possible spread of nuclear weapons.

The summary by conference chairman Yukiya Amano said the multiple unanimous resolutions on Iran's nuclear programme "demonstrate the resolve of the international community on this issue."

The United States and other nuclear weapons states had warned Thursday that peaceful use of nuclear energy requires honoring the NPT, but Iran rejected charges that it is failing to do so.

Washington has accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a peaceful programme to generate atomic power.

Diplomats said Iran might try to block the final statement at the conference's last session on Friday afternoon.

"They will do this because they will object to the word 'comply.' That will be a problem," a diplomat from a non-aligned state close to Iran told AFP.

Iran had held up debate here for six days as it objected to an agenda item calling for full compliance with the NPT.

But another diplomat close to the conference praised Amano's summary as "balanced" and said this could mollify Iran.

Opposing the summary as a procedural matter would be a political statement for Iran, the diplomat said.

"It's an objection for the record," a non-aligned diplomat added, although the discussion here would form the basis for the next conference in 2008.

The meeting here was the first of several to be held ahead of a general review in 2010 of the landmark NPT 40 years after it came into effect.

Many complain the pact is flawed since it allows states to develop technology that has both military as well as peaceful uses.

The nine-page summary also notes that "states parties expressed grave concern over the DPRK's (North Korea's) nuclear programme and its announcement of a nuclear test in October 2006."

It also expressed concerns about nuclear weapons states not living up to their pledge in the NPT to disarm, with a "slow pace of progress."

"Increased transparency with regard to nuclear weapons capabilities as a voluntary confidence-building measure was strongly advocated" from a conference at which many complained of weapons upgrades in the United States and Britain, the statement said.

It also highlighted demands made here "that pending the elimination of nuclear weapons, the nuclear-weapon states should provide security assurances to the non-nuclear-weapon States that they would not use nuclear weapons against them."

British ambassador John Duncan told reporters on Thursday: "Despite the best efforts of the Iranians, this conference has really demonstrated the common interest of the world community in dealing with nuclear issues."

Duncan said the meeting was "characterised by an open and often frank dialogue and that represents a watershed in recent arms control and disarmaments discussions. That is very encouraging for the future."