Vienna, Austria ? The United States is lobbying allies in a bid to oust the head of the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency, perhaps as early as the end of the month, diplomats and officials told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

Anticipating that present European diplomatic efforts on Iran will fail, the diplomats and officials also told AP that Washington plans to increase pressure on Tehran over its nuclear program when the International Atomic Energy Agency meets Feb. 28.

Washington, which accuses Iran of making nuclear weapons and wants it brought before the U.N. Security Council for possible sanctions, considers IAEA head Mohammed ElBaradei too soft on Tehran.

No U.S. comment was available on Washington’s strategy for the upcoming IAEA board of governors meeting. But several diplomats and government officials from IAEA member countries dismissed recent reports that the United States had given up attempts to unseat ElBaradei.

“They’ve been lobbying, and close friends have given them a good reception,” said one of the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Another said Undersecretary of State John Bolton and other State Department officials “were still lobbying the capitals, telling them it’s the way to go.”