The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency has cautioned against attacking Iranian nuclear installations after Israel's defense chief suggested the possibility of striking them.

IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi spoke in Tehran on Thursday after Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said on Monday that Iran is "more exposed than ever to strikes on its nuclear facilities."

Grossi told reporters that such attacks can lead to very serious consequences. He added that he is the head of an organization in charge of preventing such scenarios.

Grossi also met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during his visit to Tehran. It was the IAEA chief's first trip to the city since the current Iranian government was launched earlier this year.

The head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami, also spoke on Thursday, commenting on Western countries' growing pressure on Tehran over its nuclear development.

Eslami said that if Western nations take an interactive path, Iran will remain in favor of these communications. But he added that if they take another path, Iran will make necessary decisions for its national interests and security.

International concerns are mounting over Iran's nuclear program. The country has been producing uranium enriched to up to 60 percent purity. That is far above the limit of 3.67 percent set in an agreement Iran signed with world powers in 2015.

Tehran has been ramping up uranium production after the administration of then US President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled his country from the pact in 2018.