World News Iran turns away U.N. inspectors

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TEHRAN (AP) — Iran turned away U.N. inspectors from an underground site of its uranium enrichment program, officials said Aug. 21

The country's leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has also said Tehran will not give up its contentious nuclear technology

Khamenei's comments came just before a deadline to respond formally to Western incentives aimed at curbing Iran's uranium enrichment program.

The comments have dashed hopes that Iran will accept a U.N. Security Council demand that it stop enrichment by Aug. 31 or face the possibility of sanctions.

Iran has also denied entry visas to two U.N. inspectors in the last few weeks after doing the same earlier this summer for Chris Charlier, the expert heading a U.N. team to Tehran

Also, other inspectors were given only single-entry visas during their visits to Iran, instead of the usual multiple-entry permits.

Iran's actions are likely to harden the resolve of Europe and the United States to punish Iran if it does not give up uranium enrichment, which can be used to create nuclear warheads.

Sanctions could include a ban on the sale of missile and nuclear technology to Iran, international refusal to give entry visas to people involved in Iran's nuclear program and a freeze of their assets, and a ban on investment in Iran.

イラン、査察官立ち入り拒否

イランがウラン濃縮地下施設への国連の査察官の立ち入りを拒否したと、関係筋が8月21日に伝えた。

Shukan ST: Sept. 1, 2006

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