Use of force against Iran appears unlikely

Yet, the administration has made clear that the military option remains.

John Bolton, undersecretary of state for arms control and international security, told BBC radio that "the president has repeatedly said that all options are on the table."

"But that is not only not our preference, it is far, far from our minds," he said.

Meanwhile, Tehran said yesterday that the head of the UN's nuclear watchdog Mohammed ElBaradei would visit Iran on July 9 as pressure mounts on the Islamic Republic to accept tougher inspections of its nuclear sites.

"He is going to come to Iran next Wednesday, July 9," Khalil Mousavi, a spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Organization said.