From correspondents in Vienna, Austria, 10:30 AM IST

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has denied reports about Iran hampering inspections of its nuclear facility.

'The information... is untrue,' IAEA spokesman Marc Vidricaire told reporters Friday. 'We have not been denied access at any time, including in the past few weeks.

'Normally we do not comment on such reports but this time we felt we had to clarify the matter,' he said.

Vidricaire was responding to recent reports that Tehran last month denied IAEA inspectors access to its Natanz uranium enrichment base.

Iran's chief delegate to the IAEA Ali Ashgar Soltanieh has also denied the reports.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)