The U.N. atomic watchdog convened its regular June board meeting here Monday, with Iran's nuclear program expected to dominate following the country's disputed presidential election.

The U.N. atomic watchdog convened its regular June board meeting here Monday, with Iran's nuclear program expected to dominate following the country's disputed presidential election.

Over the next four days, the International Atomic Energy Agency's 35-member board is scheduled to discuss a wide range of topics, including its annual budget and the election of a successor to director general Mohamed ElBaradei, who is stepping down in November after 12 years in office.

The agency will also look at its latest reports on the deadlocked probes into the alleged illicit nuclear activities in Iran and Syria.

But the Iranian dossier in particular has taken on added urgency given the landslide re-election of hardline President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad at the weekend.

The world has been closely watching the election for any signs of a shift in policy after four years of hardline anti-Western and anti-Israeli rhetoric from Ahmadinejad amid the nuclear standoff. But Ahmadinejad has vowed to continue on the same path in his next mandate.

The U.S. has cast doubt on the validity of the poll, while European powers have condemned the ensuing police crackdown on opposition protesters.