TEHRAN: Iran accused the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Saturday of sending spies from foreign intelligence services to the Islamic state, underlining worsening relations between Tehran and the UN atomic watchdog. Intelligence Minister Heydar Moslehi made the allegation two days before Iran is due to resume talks with world powers seeking to resolve a long-running row over Tehran's atomic work. “The IAEA has been sending spies working for foreign intelligence organisations among its inspectors, and it should be held responsible,” Moslehi was quoted as saying by state broadcaster IRIB. He was referring to IAEA inspectors who visit Iran regularly to monitor its atomic activities. Iran sought on Saturday to calm the fears of its Arab neighbours, saying it would never use force against them because they are Muslims, after the US highlighted concerns over Tehran's suspected nuclear weapons program. Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was speaking at a conference on Middle East security at which Jordan's King Abdullah II said Israeli-Palestinian peace talks must be rescued from collapse to ensure regional and world stability. “We have never used our force against our neighbours and never will because our neighbours are Muslims,” Mottaki told journalists on the sidelines of the Manama Dialogue, which US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton opened on Friday. “Your power in the region is our power and our power is your power.” Clinton had said US concerns over Tehran's nuclear program are shared by Iran's neighbours in the Gulf.
