Iran Bars U.N. Nuclear Inspector From Uranium-Enrichment Plant

(The Washington Post) Iran has prevented a United Nations nuclear inspector from entering a uranium-enrichment facility and revoked her credentials after Iranian officials said she tested positive for explosive nitrates. The move drew condemnation from the United States which called Irans decision to expel the inspector an outrageous provocation." A spokesman for the International Atomic Energy Agency the U.N. nuclear watchdog confirmed that one of its inspectors was temporarily prevented from leaving Iran" last week. The Agency does not agree with Irans characterization of the situation involving the inspector who was carrying out official safeguard duties in Iran" said Fredrik Dahl the agencys spokesman. Preventing an inspector from leaving a country particularly when instructed to do so by the Agency is not acceptable and should not occur" the agencys acting director general Cornel Feruta said in a statement.