Washington, Mar 25: The US and Bahrain have signed an agreement to cooperate in the development and sharing of nuclear energy technology, the US State Department said.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Foreign Minister Sheik Khalid signed the agreement on Monday. The State Department said that the agreement highlights Bahrain's commitment as a model nation in the Middle East on nuclear issues in contrast to Iran.

Under the memorandum of understanding, Bahrain will acquire fuel through existing international markets and not seek to develop it on its own, unlike Iran, which has continued to enrich uranium in defiance of the UN Security Council.

"Bahrain affirmed its intention to forgo sensitive fuel cycle technologies and rely on existing international markets for nuclear fuel," the State Department said. "This stands in direct contrast to Irans nuclear activities."

The document was signed ahead of a Tuesday meeting between President George W Bush and Bahraini King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa.