In an interview with Der Spiegel, Mohamed ElBaradei said the International Atomic Energy Agency’s mission of promoting “safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology” has become more difficult in the 10 years he has served as its director general.

“We pay completely inadequate attention to the important threats, the inhuman living conditions of billions of people, climate change and the potential for nuclear holocaust,” ElBaradei said. “We stand at a crossroads, and we are moving rapidly toward an abyss.”

ElBaradei noted there are 27,000 nuclear warheads in the world, and said there soon could be 20 nuclear powers unless the world changes its “way of thinking.”

“And with each new player and each new weapon, the risk of a planned or accidental nuclear war increases,” he said.

ElBaradei said there are positive signs that Iran is willing to avoid confrontation over its nuclear development program.

“We should know by November, or December at the latest, whether the Iranians will keep their promises,” he said. “If they don't, Tehran will have missed a great opportunity -- possibly the last one.”