IAEA inspectors arrive in Iran

TEHRAN, Dec. 7 (UPI) -- Iran's state-run news station said United Nations inspectors have arrived to tour the country's Arak nuclear facility.

PressTV said Saturday inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency arrived in Tehran and, as part of an interim agreement with several western nations, the government will permit the inspectors to visit the heavy water reactor.

Iranian negotiators struck a deal with a group of six nations -- the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, plus Germany -- to halt all nuclear enrichment for six months while the sides work out a deal to address the issue in a permanent fashion.

Iran has long maintained it has a right to enrich radioactive material and that its program is peaceful in nature, but the United States and Israel have long said the true purpose is to create a nuclear weapon.

IAEA inspectors will also visit the Gachin nuclear facility in southern Iran, PressTV said.