PARIS - Iran would need three to eight years to make a nuclear bomb, the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog said yesterday, and warned against a rush to use force to curb Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

PARIS - Iran would need three to eight years to make a nuclear bomb, the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog said yesterday, and warned against a rush to use force to curb Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told France's Le Monde newspaper there was plenty of time for diplomacy, sanctions, dialogue and incentives to bear fruit.

US Vice President Dick Cheney said on Sunday that the world would not stand by and let Iran develop a nuclear weapon, and Washington has not ruled out an attack. Iran says its nuclear plans are peaceful.

"I cannot judge their intentions, but supposing that Iran does intend to acquire a nuclear bomb, it would need between another three and eight years to succeed," ElBaradei said. - Reuters