On Friday, Israel informed the United Nations nuclear watchdog that it would prefer a diplomatic solution to the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program, but that it may take unilateral action, reaffirming a long-standing veiled threat to launch a preemptive war.

The warning to visiting IAEA director Rafael Grossi came as Western nations urged the IAEA Board of Governors to chastise Tehran for failing to address concerns about uranium traces at undeclared locations.

This debate has obscured so far futile efforts by negotiators to resuscitate a 2015 Iran nuclear deal that former US President Donald Trump pulled out of in 2018.

Since Washington’s walkout and its reimposition of sanctions against Iran, Tehran – which says its nuclear designs are peaceful – has stepped up uranium enrichment, a process that could produce fuel for bombs.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett “stressed (to Grossi) the importance of the IAEA Board of Governors delivering a clear and unequivocal message to Iran in its upcoming decision”, a statement from Bennett’s office said.