Negotiation best option to settle Iran nuke crisis: IAEA

VIENNA: UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei on Monday said that negotiation remains the best option to settle the Iranian nuclear crisis and that he hoped for a breakthrough soon.

"I think negotiation is the best option to find a durable solution," ElBaradei told reporters as a meeting began in Vienna of the 35-nation board of governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

He was speaking the day after top Iranian nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana said they would hold another meeting this week after having made progress in last-ditch talks at the weekend to avert UN sanctions over Tehran's uranium enrichment.

ElBaradei said, "I hope that when they meet... that we will be able to see an agreement to go back to the negotiating table."

"The window of opportunity however is not very long," ElBaradei added.

Six world powers have offered Iran negotiations on a package of trade and other benefits if it would suspend uranium enrichment, which makes nuclear reactor fuel but also atom bomb material.

Iran has resolutely refused to suspend this strategic nuclear fuel work, saying it has a peaceful nuclear program and the right to enrich under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

The United States is pushing for sanctions at the United Nations Security Council to punish Iran's defiance of an August 31 UN deadline for it to halt enrichment and take up the six nations' incentives offer.