Iran threatens to hinder inspections

TEHRAN, Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Tehran will hinder the International Atomic Energy Agency if the United Nations sanctions Iran for its nuclear program, Iran's Foreign Ministry said Sunday.

"If the U.N. Security Council adopts a resolution against the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran will revise its policies on the level of its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency," spokesman Mohammad-Ali Hosseini said.

The agency seeks to inspect Iran's nuclear program.

Hosseini expressed regret over the support Germany, France and Britain have given to the United States, Islamic Republic News Agency, IRNA, reported.

He said Iran hoped "they would return to the right course, which is that of negotiations."

Despite talk of a thawing of relations between Tehran and Washington, Hosseini said Iran saw no sign the United States had changed its position.

"America's policies toward Iran have been to extend sanctions for five more years, to freeze Iran's assets and to put pressure on the (nuclear) negotiations," he said. "These are the policies that we have seen in practice from America. We have not witnessed a major change."