SINGAPORE, Feb 26 Gold was within sight of its highest level in nine months on Monday, ge

SINGAPORE, Feb 26 (Reuters) Gold was within sight of its highest level in nine months on Monday, getting support from crude oil and tensions between Iran and the United Nations.

-- Spot gold rose to $685.20/685.80 an ounce from $682.00/682.70 late in New York on Friday, when it had rallied to $688.20 an ounce on safe-haven buying.

-- Silver extended Friday's gains and rose to its highest since May to $14.64 an ounce. It was last quoted at $14.53/14.58 an ounce.

-- The new benchmark gold futures on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange, February 2008, was at 2,690 yen ($22.22) per gram after opening at 2,692 yen.

-- U.S. crude futures eased on Monday but held above $61 a barrel on support from escalating tensions over Iran's nuclear programme.

-- U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney said on Saturday that the United States and its allies must not allow Iran to become a nuclear power and raised concerns about Tehran's actions and inflammatory rhetoric. [ID:nN24347814] -- The euro was higher at $1.3186 .

-- Platinum eased to $1,235/1,240 an ounce from $1,236/1,241 in New York on Friday -- its highest in three months.

-- Palladium slipped to $354/359 from $355/358 an ounce. It rallied to $357 an ounce on Friday, its best level since June.

($1=121.05 yen) REUTERS SBA RN0758