Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met with International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi on Friday, following Grossi’s arrival in Israel on Thursday night, according to a statement from Bennett’s office. Following their meeting, Grossi departed for Vienna.
The Israeli premier conveyed to Grossi Israel’s “deep concern” regarding Iran’s ongoing march toward achieving nuclear weapons and deception of the international community, the statement said.
He stressed Israel’s support for the IAEA carrying out its mandate vis-à-vis Iran in a “professional and independent way,” as well as the importance of the IAEA Board of Governors delivering a “clear and unequivocal” message to Iran.
“While Israel prefers diplomacy in order to deny Iran the possibility of developing nuclear weapons, it reserves the right to self-defense and to action against Iran in order to block its nuclear program should the international community not succeed in the relevant time frame,” said Bennett, according to the statement.