Iran halts UN’s nuclear inspections

IRAN ended all voluntary cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog yesterday but said it was open to a proposal to enrich Iranian uranium in Russia, softening its earlier response to being reported to the UN Security Council over fears it wants to produce nuclear arms.

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said Iran had implemented the president's orders to resume uranium enrichment and bar snap inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of its nuclear facilities measures it allowed in recent years in a gesture to build trust.

"We ended all the voluntary co-operation we have been extending to the IAEA on the basis of the president's order," Mr Mottaki said.