The New Nation - Internet Edition

AFP, Dubai

UN atomic watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei warned that any attack on Iran would transform the region into a "ball of fire," in an interview with Al-Arabiya television broadcast on Saturday.

His comments come after US media reported that Israeli jet pilots trained for a possible strike on Iranian nuclear sites.

"A military strike (against Iran) would in my opinion be worse than anything elset It would transform the Middle East region into a ball of fire," said ElBaradei, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Should a strike be carried out, he told the Dubai-based channel, he would find it impossible to continue as head of the IAEA.

An attack, he added, would do nothing but harden Iran's position in its row with the West over its nuclear programme.

"A military strike would spark the launch of an emergency programme to make atomic weapons, with the support of all Iranians, including those living abroad," ElBaradei said.