Iraq cancels meeting with nuclear watchdog

VIENNA, Jan. 5 (UPI) -- Iran canceled a meeting Thursday with the International Atomic Energy Agency that was set up so it could explain its decision to restart critical operations.

"There was no explanation," Melissa Fleming, a spokeswoman for the U.N. nuclear monitoring agency, told the New York Times. "We're still seeking clarification."

The Times suggested Iraq may have decided to defy most countries and ignore an agreement with Britain, France and Germany that required it to give up most nuclear operations. Alternatively, Iraq's strategy may be in turmoil because of the replacement of experienced diplomats with hard-line Muslim fundamentalists since the election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice warned Iraq about the risk of nuclear startup.

"They shouldn't do it because it would really be a sign that they are not prepared to actually make diplomacy work," she told reporters in Washington.