ROME, October 03, SPA -- Italian Premier Romano Prodi said Wednesday that an agreement between the U.N. nuclear agency and Iran has opened a window of opportunity that must be exploredbefore any further sanctions against the Islamic state areconsidered. «We must take advantage of this window,» Prodi told theForeign Press Association. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) wrested a promise from Tehran in July to clear up its nuclear record. Lastmonth, the agency's chief, Mohamed ElBaradei, urged Iran toanswer all questions _ including reported experiments thatlink enrichment and missile technology _ before the end ofthe year. «We have always said that sanctions are an instrument topush toward dialogue,» Prodi said. «I don't think thatstiffening them before sitting at the negotiating table isthe most accurate choice.» «We wanted to open negotiations, now negotiations areopen. Let's work so that they can produce results,» saidthe premier, whose country is Iran's No. 1 trading partnerin Europe. --SPA www.spa.gov.sa/487841