US warns Iran against expelling UN nuclear inspectors

The United States on Thursday criticized a suggestion by influential former Iranian security chief Ali Shamkhani that US threats could prompt Tehran to end cooperation with United Nations nuclear inspectors and hide its uranium.

“These actions—the threat of that kind of action—are inconsistent with Iran’s claims of a peaceful nuclear program,” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said during a press briefing.

“Iran is the only non-nuclear weapons state producing highly enriched uranium at this level,” she said.

“Why would one need to do that if it was for peaceful energy work? Doesn't make much sense.”