Israel is ready to use its "right of self-defense" to stop Iran's nuclear program, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said at a meeting with IAEA head Rafael Grossi, AFP reported.

Bennett said he made it clear that Israel prefers diplomacy, but "reserves the right of self-defense and action against Iran to block its nuclear program if the international community does not succeed within an appropriate time frame."

Grossi's visit came after the IAEA said Monday that it still has questions that "have not been clarified," despite lengthy attempts to get Iran to explain the presence of nuclear material at three undeclared sites.

Experts consider Israel the only nuclear power in the Middle East, although the country refuses to confirm or deny that it has such weapons. Iran has always denied pursuing a nuclear bomb.

Israel strongly opposes the 2015 agreement, which it perceives as a threat to its security.

In October, Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid said that "if a terrorist regime is going to get a nuclear weapon, we must act. He added that Israel reserves the right to act at any time in any way.

This week, the Israeli army conducted military exercises over the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Israeli media reported that the exercise simulated a large-scale attack on Iran, including its nuclear facilities.