"We haven't really moved one inch toward addressing the issues," said Mohamed ElBaradei who heads the International Atomic Energy Agency, in an interview published Saturday.

"I think so far the policy has been a failure."

Iran has faced three sets of UN Security Council sanctions over its refusal to freeze uranium enrichment activities, but over the past five years Tehran has pressed on with its controversial nuclear work.

The United States and other western powers suspect that the Islamic republic's nuclear program is a cover for an atomic weapons-making program.

Iran, a leading OPEC oil producer, denies it is seeking nuclear weapons and says it aims to provide energy for its growing population when its reserves of fossil fuels run out.

The IAEA reported last month that Iran now has more than 5,000 uranium enrichment centrifuges in operation.

ElBaradei, 66, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and frequent critic of the administration of US President George W. Bush and its hardline approach to nuclear talks, said the White House successor, Barack Obama, gave him "lots of hope."

"He is ready to talk to his adversaries, enemies, if you like, including Iran, also (North) Korea," he said of Obama, who has advocated for the abolishment of nuclear weapons and more dialogue with political foes.

"To continue to pound the table and say, 'I am not going to talk to you,' and act in a sort of a very condescending way -- that exaggerates problems," he told the newspaper.

ElBaradei, who has headed the IAEA for 11 years, added that sanctions may have led to "more hardening of the position of Iran," the report said.

"Many Iranians who even dislike the regime (are) gathering around the regime because they feel that country is under siege."

earlier related report
Diplomacy is 'best course' to stop Iran nuclear work, Rice says
US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice acknowledged Sunday that Iran had not yielded to international demands to stop sensitive nuclear work, but said diplomacy remained "the best course."

Rice told Fox television that the world community is more united than ever in trying to stop Iran from enriching uranium when asked whether Iran is closer than eight years ago to having the technology to build an atomic weapon.

"Iran is still pursuing quite clearly the technology that can lead to a nuclear weapon, but Iran also faces a heavy set of sanctions," Rice said.

Iran faces sanctions not just through the UN Security Council but also "through the companies and banks that will no longer deal with Iran," she added.

"Iran's isolation has deepened. Indeed, Iran is more isolated and there's a greater international consensus about the Iranian program than at any time," Rice said.

When asked if President George W. Bush's promise to stop Iran from making a nuclear weapon was in vain, Rice said "we are working very hard with the international community to make certain they don't get the technology.

So far, Rice said "the Iranians have not given (in) to the demands of the international community. But we continue to put the pressure on, and the diplomatic course is really the best course."

Mohamed ElBaradei, who heads the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency, said in an interview published Saturday in the Los Angeles Times that international efforts to halt Iranian nuclear activity have been a failure.

Though it has pursued multilateral diplomacy, the Bush administration has been reluctant to meet with Iranian officials before they suspend uranium enrichment. Three sets of UN sanctions have been imposed for such refusal.

ElBaradei said President-elect Barack Obama gave him "lots of hope" because he is ready to talk to Iran and other adversaries rather than dictate conditions for talks.

"To continue to pound the table and say, 'I am not going to talk to you,' and act in a sort of a very condescending way -- that exaggerates problems," he told the newspaper.

Iran, a leading OPEC oil producer, denies it is seeking nuclear weapons and says it aims to provide energy for its growing population when its reserves of fossil fuels run out.

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