MP says Iran bars 38 UN atomic inspectors--agency

[Freddie Stubbs]

TEHRAN, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Iran has barred 38 inspectors from the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), from entering the country, an Iranian politician was quoted by Iran's ISNA news agency on Monday as saying.

The agency said the move was a "first step" in limiting cooperation with the IAEA, in line with a demand made by parliament after U.N. sanctions were imposed on Iran a month ago over its disputed nuclear programme.

IAEA inspectors make routine checks of Iran's nuclear sites. Last year Iran, retaliating for growing Western pressure on it to halt nuclear activity, temporarily denied visas to some inspectors and curtailed the frequency of visits to facilities by inspectors already in the country.

The West accuses Iran of seeking to build atom bombs, while Tehran insists it aims to generate electricity.

more: &cap=Russian%20President%20Vladimir%20Putin%20(L)%20listens%20to%20explanations%20by%20Russia's%20Space%20Troops%20commander%20Vladimir%20Popovkin%20during%20a%20visit%20to%20the%20cosmodrome%20Plesetsk%20in%20the%20Arkhangelsk%20region%20December%2015,%202006.%20%20%20REUTERS/ITAR-TASS/PRESIDENTIAL%20PRESS%20SERVICE%20%20(RUSSIA)&from=business

[endarkenment]

1. I am shocked that just because we imposed sanctions

on them and keep threatening to nuke them that they have decided to not cooperate! How could they?