DAVOS, Jan 28: The head of the UN nuclear watchdog urged the United States on Friday to join forces with the EU to persuade Iran to give up atomic processes that could be used to make weapons.

He drew a mixed response from US politicians attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, with Democrats favouring engagement with Tehran while Republicans were more sceptical about any dealing with Iran's religious hard liners.

France, Britain and Germany are leading a European Union initiative to push Tehran to abandon its work on producing nuclear fuel in exchange for economic and political incentives.

Washington, which accuses Iran of developing nuclear weapons under cover of a civilian atomic energy programme, has given arm's-length support to the EU effort, but some US officials say it is doomed. The United States has called for Iran to be referred to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.

Asked if recent US statements that military action was an option to stop Iran from getting a bomb, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohamed ElBaradei said he hoped the United States would opt for diplomacy.

"I would hope that the US eventually would be actively engaged with the Europeans in the dialogue with Iran," Mr ElBaradei said on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum. -Reuters