Iran 'has right to bar UN inspectors'

Tehran: Iran's nuclear chief said Tehran has the right to bar some UN inspectors from monitoring its disputed nuclear programme, the semi-official Isna news agency reported.

Ali Akbar Salehi's comments late on Monday were apparently in response to a report by the International Atomic Energy Agency, or IAEA, expressing alarm about Iran's decision to bar some of its inspectors.

The report followed Iran's recent decision to strip two inspectors of the right to monitor its nuclear activities after they reported what they said were undeclared nuclear experiments.

Isna also quoted Salehi as saying Iran asked the agency to replace the two and that it has accepted the replacements.

"This is our right as well as the right of other members of the agency to choose the inspectors," Salehi said. "Basically, all member nations select from a list provided by the agency."

The West, led by the United States, suspects that Iran's nuclear programme is geared toward making weapons. Iran denies the charge, saying the programme is for peaceful purposes only.

Salehi, also the Islamic Republic's vice-president, urged the Vienna-based atomic agency to steer a fair and neutral course, arguing that the IAEA's credibility depended on that.

Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast echoed Salehi's comments yesterday.

"We have the right to replace inspectors regarding their background and activities," he said.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said yesterday that Iran needs to answer the demands of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) over its nuclear programme.

"The IAEA must continue its work ... Iran must answer the demands of the IAEA," Lavrov told a news conference in Paris, where he met French counterpart Bernard Kouchner.

China also called on Iran yesterday to cooperate with the IAEA.

"We have noted the IAEA report," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu told a regular news briefing in Beijing.