International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Mohamed ElBaradei (L) gestures as he talks to Austrian Foreign Minister Ursula Plassnik after a news conference during the 51st General Conference of the IAEA in Vienna September 17, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    VIENNA, Sept. 17 (Xinhua) -- Mohamed ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), called on the international community Monday to settle Iran's nuclear issues through negotiation, stressing that talk about possible war against Iran was "contra-constructive".

    He expressed his worries to the media about the increased discussions about the possible military action against Iran at the 51st annual regular session of the IAEA General Conference held in Vienna this week.

A general view of the plenary hall during a session of the 51st General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna Septemer 17, 2007. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    The chief of the IAEA urged all parties involved to learn lessons from the Iraq war before talking about military action against Iran.

    He stressed the importance of settling Iran's nuclear issues through negotiation, and meanwhile called on Iran to continuously cooperate with the IAEA and clarify its open questions in the nuclear program.

    The 51st annual regular session of the IAEA General Conference is taking place this week at the Austria Center in Vienna.

    High-level delegates and representatives from the agency's 144 member states, including China's delegation, headed by Sun Qin, director of the China Atomic Energy Authority, are attending the five-day conference.