U.N. Atomic Energy chief Mohammed ElBaradei urged the international community yesterday to steer away from threats of sanctions against Iran to prevent the dispute over the country’s nuclear intentions from spiraling out of control.

Meanwhile, ministers of major powers meeting here similarly struck a more conciliatory tone than in recent weeks following agreement on Wednesday by the U.N. Security Council to give Iran another 30 days to respond to requests from the U.N.’s atomic energy organization that it halt uranium enrichment research.

ElBaradei, speaking in Doha, emphasized that Iran is not “an imminent threat” and urged countries to “lower the pitch” in their effort to stop Iran’s nuclear work.

In recent weeks the America and members of the European Union have made increasingly confrontational statements about what they claim is Iran’s intent to perfect technology to enrich uranium with the goal of eventually manufacturing a nuclear weapon.

“There is no military solution to this situation,” said ElBaradei, Nobel Prize-winning director-general of the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency. “It’s inconceivable. The only durable solution is a negotiated solution.”

Russia, China, and several countries in the Middle East have voiced concern that the U.S. and EU are pursuing similar tactics with Iran as with Iraq a few years ago, creating a sense of crisis that makes it easier to make the case for military action.

Yesterday, comments by Secretary of State Rice and her counterparts from China, Russia, France, Germany and Britain made clear that despite the Security Council’s unity, deep ideological differences remain among the major powers over what the next steps should be. ElBaradei’s comments seemed timed to influence them during the crucial month-long period.

Britain, France, and America have said they would be willing to level sanctions on Iran or ultimately use military force if Iran continues to move forward in its effort to perfect uranium enrichment. Russia and China oppose any punitive actions at this point, a position they reiterated at yesterday’s meeting, because they fear it would make Iran more confrontational and could lead to further turmoil in the Middle East.

The statement approved by the Security Council essentially buys the United Nations 30 days to figure out what to do if Iran remains defiant. Once the month long period ends, ElBaradei is required to issue another report on whether Iran has complied with IAEA requests which include: halting uranium enrichment research, answering questions about its nuclear program and ratifying IAEA regulations allowing U.N. nuclear inspectors more access to Iranian nuclear facilities and to plants where parts are manufactured for its nuclear industry.