WASHINGTON, Feb 22: The United States said on Thursday it would seek more sanctions against Iran for its failure to meet a UN deadline, but also hinted at holding direct talks with Tehran on nuclear and other disputes.

State Department’s deputy spokesman Tom Casey told a briefing in Washington he was confident the UN Security Council would approve further action against Iran for failing to observe a Feb 22 deadline.

The statement followed the release of an IAEA report that Iran has failed to comply with a UN Security Council demand to halt uranium enrichment activities opening the door to fresh sanctions against Tehran.

The Security Council had asked Iran to mothball its uranium enrichment programme by Thursday or face further tightening of the sanctions imposed on Dec 23 last year.

Mr Casey said that a US overture for direct talks with Iran going beyond the nuclear issue `remains on the table’ and so does the offer to help Iran develop a civilian nuclear programme.

“The United States has never said, nor ever tried, to prevent Iran from having the benefits of a civilian nuclear power programme designed to generate electricity for the benefit of the people of Iran,” he added.

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice also hinted earlier this week at the possibility of holding direct talks with Iran, expressing her desire to meet face to face with Iranian representatives.

“In May of last year we offered, the Bush Administration offered, to reverse 27 years of American policy to engage … with our Iranian counterparts," she told reporters. “I've said I would meet my Iranian counterpart anyplace, anywhere, anytime should the Iranians decide to suspend their activities.”

Mr Casey described the Iranian refusal to accept the UN deadline as a `missed opportunity’' for the people and the government in Iran.

He said the Bush administration wanted the Security Council to take further steps beyond what members approved late last year. But he stopped short of predicting what those steps might be.

Mr Casey said Secretary Rice discussed possible additional sanctions with her European counterparts in Berlin late on Wednesday, and that Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns was in touch with colleagues from the permanent UN Security Council member countries and Germany.

In a separate statement, the White House said it was disappointed that Iran had refused to halt uranium enrichment.