Diplomats tell The Associated Press that the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency is forming a special Iran team, drawing together sleuths in weapons technology, intelligence analysis, radiation and other fields of expertise.

They say the goal is to add muscle to a probe of suspicions that Tehran worked secretly on nuclear weapons.

Creating a unit focused on only one country is an unusual move for the International Atomic Energy Agency, reflecting the priority it attaches to Iran amid fears it is moving closer to the ability to make nuclear weapons.

Iran denies it has a nuclear weapons program and says it has never worked on developing nuclear weapons.

The four diplomats demanded anonymity because they were not authorized to divulge the confidential IAEA plans.