Tehran Warns of Nuclear Tensions

Iran’s chief delegate to the U.N. atomic agency warned the U.S. and other nations ahead of a meeting today that nuclear tensions could grow if they press Tehran too hard to open its programs to inspectors.

Ali Akbar Salehi said Iran is open to negotiating on inspections with the International Atomic Energy Agency but indicated the offer could be pulled if today’s IAEA board meeting “disrupted the whole process.”

The meeting probably will urge Iran to accept tougher inspections without notice and ask it to explain IAEA findings that the United States says point to a covert atomic arms program.