Elbaradei calls for direct Iran-US nuclear talks

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has called on Iran and the United States to hold direct nuclear talks without any preconditions.

Outgoing IAEA Director-General Mohamed ElBaradei said on Saturday that US President Barack Obama "has understood that talks with Iran" over its nuclear energy program are "the only possible solution" to the issue.

ElBaradei added that new sanctions against Iran would only complicate the situation. "Of course you can impose further sanctions. But I consider it rather unlikely that new sanctions will make Iran come around," he was quoted by Reuters as saying.

His remarks come, while earlier in the week US lawmakers approved and sent to Obama a bill that penalizes American or foreign firms that have 20 million dollars or more invested in Iran's petroleum or natural gas operations.

The US, which has failed to push other world powers into imposing new sanctions against Iran, has stepped up unilateral efforts to impose embargoes against Iran.

The UN nuclear watchdog chief further said that he was optimistic about the upcoming talks with Iran next week.

Iran says it needs nuclear energy as solely aimed at producing electricity, and rejects Western allegations that the country is after atomic weapons.

The IAEA has so far made "25 unannounced inspections" of the country's nuclear facilities and has published over 20 reports -- all of which confirm the non-diversion of Iran's uranium enrichment so far.

Next week in Vienna, Tehran is expected to discuss the prospects of a deal to process its required uranium abroad.