Iran critical of IAEA inspectors

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VIENNA, Oct. 8 (UPI) -- Iran is ratcheting up criticism of international nuclear regulators in what diplomats say may be a precursor to tossing out the last remaining inspectors.

Iranian officials accused inspectors at the International Atomic Energy Agency of spying and tampering with equipment. In response, Iran has threatened to limit access to the United Nations inspectors who visit the nation's most sensitive nuclear laboratories.

Last month, Iran accused IAEA inspectors of being directly involved in an attack on an electricity grid that powers one if its nuclear facilities, The Washington Post reported. The IAEA labeled Iran's accusation "absurd" and said it cannot even verify that the attack took place. One unidentified diplomat described Iran's threats as trying to incite a "climate of intimidation" for the nuclear inspectors.