Iran Bars Two UN Nuclear Inspectors

Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization (file photo)

A senior Iranian official says Iran will not allow two UN nuclear inspectors to enter the country over what he described as an "untruthful" report by the UN's atomic watchdog.

Ali Akbar Salehi, the head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization, said Iran has told the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that the two inspectors would be barred for authoring the report about Iran's nuclear program. He did not name the inspectors.

In a report in late May, the IAEA said that Iran was preparing extra equipment to enrich uranium to higher levels and continuing to stockpile nuclear material.

The UN Security Council on June 9 imposed a fourth round of sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program, which the West suspects is aimed at producing weapons.

Iran rejects the accusation and says its nuclear program is solely for civilian purposes.

In reacting to the latest sanctions, Iranian lawmakers had warned Iran could reduce ties with the Vienna-based IAEA.

compiled from agency reports