The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Mohamed ElBaradei is threatening to resign if Iran is attacked militarily.

Mohamad ElBaradei: “If there ended up being a military action against Iran at this time, then I will be unable to continue my work.”

ElBaradei said Iran does not present a grave and urgent danger and that an attack on Iran would turn the region into a fireball. ElBaradei’s comments came just days after the New York Times revealed Israel had carried out a major military exercise that US officials say appeared to be a rehearsal for a potential bombing attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. At the United Nations, Russian Ambassador Vitaly Churkin warned against an Israeli attack.

Vitaly Churkin: “I don’t know whether the story is true or not, to begin with, but as a matter of principle, of course we believe that any effort or attempt to use force in this situation will be extremely counterproductive. What we have now is, for the first time in a while, we have something of a diplomatic momentum on the heels of Mr. Salana’s trip to Tehran and the new expanded and enlarged package which was proposed by the six to Tehran, its counter-response, and I would believe that there are some hopeful diplomatic signs.”

US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad threatened Iran by saying more measures will be taken if Iran defies the international community.

Zalmay Khalilzad: “Iran has to — the government has to recognize that the international community takes this issue very seriously and that there will have to be further measures, if they continue to be in defiance of an international community.”