Iran freezes its nuclear inspection after UN rap

‘‘Today, IAEA inspectors were expected to arrive in Iran,’’ Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, Hassan Rowhani, said in Tehran. ‘‘We will not allow them to come until Iran sets a new date for their visit. This is a protest by Iran in reaction to the passage of the resolution.’’

The agency’s director-general, Mohamed ElBaradei, sought to play down Iran’s action, saying, ‘‘I’m confident Iran will understand that we need to go within the time scheduled, and the decision to delay the inspection will be reversed in the next couple of days.’’

If inspections are not resumed soon, tension between Washington and Tehran is likely to be heightened, and the agency might offer harsher criticism when its board of governors meets again in June.

Kenneth Brill, the chief US delegate to the meeting, said he suspected the freeze was an attempt by Iran to gain time and hide its activities. ‘‘Is it possible that, even as we meet, squads of Iranian technicians are working at still undeclared sites to tile over, paint over, burn or cart away incriminating evidence, so that those locations can be identified to the agency as new evidence of Iran’s cooperation and transparency?’’ he asked. — (NYT)