Iran has barred two United Nations weapons inspectors from entering the Islamic Republic after Tehran accused the two of filling false reports. Referencing an IAEA report published by the two last May, they alleged that Iran was preparing extra equipment to enrich uranium to higher levels as it stockpiled nuclear materials.
"Their report was utterly untruthful," said Iranian nuclear energy chief Ali Akhbar Salehi. "If an inspector makes a report contrary to the standing we have the right to protest it," he added. He also requested that two other IAEI officials be sent in their place.
"We called for banning their arrival in Iran for inspection, since they have also disclosed information before it had been examined officially and they had provided media with false information on Iran's nuclear work."
The IAEA has not released a statement about the issue. According to a Reuters report, a UN diplomat has confirmed that Iran has informed the agency of the ban which may retaliate by imposing additional sanctions. The Iranian decision comes less than two weeks after the UN Security Council imposed its fourth round of sanctions against the country.
