Iran's nuclear chief criticized the U.N. nuclear agency Monday saying it was suffering from a credibility crisis.
Ali Akbar Salehi said in Vienna at the general assembly of the International Atomic Energy Agency that the agency's latest report on Iran's disputed nuclear program was unfair.
Iran's relations with the U.N. agency have become increasingly strained this year after it found that Tehran is pressing ahead with its uranium enrichment program in defiance of U.N. demands to stop.
Western nations suspect Iran is enriching uranium to develop nuclear weapons. Iran says its atomic program is peaceful.
U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu also criticized Iran at the IAEA meeting. He said Tehran has failed to meet its obligations to assure the rest of the world of the peaceful nature of its intentions.
Chu said Washington remains committed to pursuing a diplomatic solution to the Iranian nuclear dispute.
IAEA director general Yukio Amano criticized Tehran in the report, saying it is hampering the agency's work by barring U.N. inspectors from visiting Iranian nuclear sites. Amano also said he could not confirm that all of Iran's nuclear activities are peaceful.
Iran barred two IAEA inspectors from entering the country in June, accusing them of making false reports about Iran's nuclear program.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
