ElBaradei said he "strongly encourages Iran to create the conditions necessary for the resumption of these talks (with the European Union), with US participation, with a view to achieving a comprehensive settlement that is acceptable to both the international community and Iran".

The chief of the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a statement that he welcomed US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's announcement of US willingness to join EU-Iran talks.

But he noted that this would only be possible "once Iran responds positively to the IAEA Board of Governors call for the suspension of enrichment related and reprocessing activities as a confidence building measure".

Enrichment and reprocessing make what can be nuclear fuel for civilian power reactors but also in highly refined form the explosive core of atom bombs.

The United States is ready to join multiparty talks with Iran along with EU negotiators Britain, Germany and France if Tehran suspends all uranium enrichment activities, Rice said in Washington Wednesday.

Iran has until now refused to halt enrichment.

ElBaradei is currently in the United States, where he gave an address Wednesday at Stanford University in California.

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