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Israel prefers diplomacy but can take independent action on Iran, PM tells IAEA chief

Speaking to Rafael Grossi in Israel ahead of an IAEA board of governors meeting to discuss Iran's nuclear program, PM Bennett says, "Israel reserves the right to self-defense and action against Iran to stop its nuclear program if the international community fails to do so within the relevant time frame."

by  Ariel Kahana , Tamir Morag , AP and ILH Staff
Published on  06-03-2022 08:41
Last modified: 06-03-2022 12:28
Israel prefers diplomacy but can take independent action on Iran, PM tells IAEA chiefGPO/Kobi Gideon

IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi speaks with Prime Minister Naftali Bennett in Jerusalem, June 3, 2022 | Photo: GPO/Kobi Gideon

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The director of the UN's atomic watchdog arrived in Israel on Thursday and is set to hold talks with top officials.

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Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's office met with Rafael Grossi, the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, on Friday.

Bennett told the UN nuclear watchdog head that Israel would prefer a diplomatic resolution to the standoff over the Iranian nuclear program but could take independent action, an Israeli statement said.

"Israel reserves the right to self-defense and action against Iran to stop its nuclear program if the international community fails to do so within the relevant time frame," Bennett said.

Bennett "expressed Israel's deep concern regarding Iran's continued progress toward achieving nuclear weapons while deceiving the international community by using false information and lies," his office said in a statement.

He "emphasized the urgent need in mobilizing the international community to take action against Iran, using all means, in order to prevent Iran from achieving nuclear weapons."

The premier called on the board of governors to deliver a "clear and unequivocal message" to Iran.

The visit comes ahead of a meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency's Board of Governors set for June 6 to discuss Iran's nuclear program.

IAEA board members are reportedly angry with Iran following a Wall Street Journal report according to which the Islamic Republic stole IAEA documents containing classified information on expected criticism, allowing the Iranians to cover up their nuclear activity.

A quarterly report by the IAEA released earlier this week stated that Iran had not provided satisfactory answers to its long-standing questions on the origin of uranium particles found at three undeclared sites despite a fresh push for a breakthrough.

The IAEA report detailing Iran's continued failure to provide credible answers raises pressure on the United States and its allies to take action against the regime at the board meeting since Tehran and the IAEA announced a renewed push in March to clear things up.

"Iran has not provided explanations that are technically credible in relation to the agency's findings at those locations," the report said, adding: "The agency remains ready to engage without delay with Iran to resolve all of these matters."

A separate quarterly IAEA report said Iran's stockpile of uranium enriched to 60%, close to the roughly 90% that is weapons-grade and in a form that can be enriched further, is estimated to have grown by 9.9 kilograms (22 pounds) to 43.1 kilograms (95 pounds).

That amounts to slightly more than what the IAEA calls a "significant quantity," defined as "the approximate amount of nuclear material for which the possibility of manufacturing a nuclear explosive device cannot be excluded."

The United States, France, Britain, and Germany are pushing for the international nuclear watchdog's Board of Governors to rebuke Iran for failing to answer longstanding questions on uranium traces at undeclared sites, according to a draft resolution.

The move is likely to anger Iran, which generally bristles at such resolutions, and that in turn could damage prospects for rescuing the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Indirect talks on that between Iran and the United States are already stalled.

Iran, which insists its nuclear program is peaceful while the West says it is moving closer to being able to build a bomb, would respond to any "unconstructive action" taken at next week's board meeting, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said.

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