VIENNA, March 2, 2026 (BSS/AFP) - Delegates at the United Nations' nuclear agency began meeting on Monday for an extraordinary session on Iran in the wake of the US-Israeli strikes on the Islamic republic.

Russia, a key ally of Tehran, requested the meeting on Saturday at the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), following the same request by Iran.

The extraordinary meeting precedes an already scheduled regular session of the IAEA's board of governors, which represents 35 countries.

Following the strikes, the IAEA -- which monitors Iran's nuclear programme -- said on Saturday that it was "closely monitoring developments in the Middle East, and urges restraint to avoid any nuclear safety risks to people in the region".