Iran Restricts UN Inspectors' Access to Nuclear Sites in Unprecedented Move

Iran has barred around a third of the International Atomic Energy Agency's inspectors from overseeing its nuclear sites, a move described as "unprecedented" by the IAEA's chief. The lack of cooperation will complicate the inspection of Iran's nuclear program and hinder the agency's ability to provide credible assurances of peaceful purposes. Iran's foreign ministry claimed the move was in response to Western countries' use of the IAEA for "political purposes." The development comes as concerns grow over Iran's nuclear program and its failure to address outstanding issues raised by the IAEA.