The Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency joins calls for “extreme restraint” as part of Israel’s determination to respond to the unprecedented direct Iranian attack on Israel, and warns against targeting nuclear facilities.

On Monday, the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, expressed his concern about the possibility of Israel targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, but confirmed that the agency’s inspections of Iranian facilities will resume today, Tuesday.

Israeli Army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevy said yesterday, Monday, that Israel will respond to the attack launched by Iran over the weekend with missiles and drones in response to the attack on the Tehran embassy compound in Damascus on April 1.

This statement came amid calls for restraint on the part of allies keen to avoid escalation of the conflict in the Middle East.

Grossi said Iran closed its nuclear facilities on Sunday “for security considerations” and reopened them on Monday, but he kept agency inspectors away “until we see that the situation is completely calm.”

Grossi added in statements to reporters in New York: “We will resume tomorrow... This has no impact on inspection activity.”

When asked about the possibility of Iranian nuclear facilities being bombed by Israel, Grossi said: “We are always concerned about this possibility.” He urged "extreme restraint."

The International Atomic Energy Agency regularly conducts inspections of Iran's main nuclear facilities, such as the enrichment plants in Natanz, which are a major part of the country's nuclear program.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been very limited in his statements since the Iranian attack on Israel on the night of Saturday-Sunday, is taking his time to decide between launching a quick and powerful strike that might ignite the region, or waiting to reap diplomatic gains.

Since Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles at Israel, Netanyahu has not addressed the Israelis, and since then he has chaired more than two war cabinet meetings. On Monday evening, in a brief message published by his office on the X platform, he called on “the international community to remain united to resist this Iranian aggression that threatens world peace.”

But absolute ambiguity still prevails about what Israel's response might be to a direct attack, which is Iran's first against Israel.

The United States, Israel's strongest ally, has previously announced that it does not want a "large-scale war with Iran" and warned that it will not participate in any retaliatory operation against the Islamic Republic.

Although France and the United Kingdom participated in confronting the Iranian attack, the two countries distanced themselves from any Israeli retaliation.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron ruled out his country's participation in any response, while French President Emmanuel Macron called for avoiding "ignition" of the region.

For its part, Iran announced that it had turned the page and that “the issue is over,” but it warned Israel that “any reckless behavior will receive a stronger and more resolute response.”