Iran bans UN nuclear inspectors

The report, posted on the website of the state broadcasting company, quotes Ali Akbar Salehi, head of Iran's nuclear department, as saying the Vienna-based International Agency for Atomic Energy, the UN nuclear watchdog, has been informed of the decision to ban the two inspectors. He did not name them.

It is the latest twist in Iran's deepening tussle with the IAEA and the West over its nuclear programme.

The United States says Iran's programme is geared towards making nuclear weapons. Iran denies the charge. Mr Salehi claimed the two inspectors' latest report on Iran was false.

The UN Security Council slapped a fourth set of sanctions on Iran earlier this month over its nuclear programme.