The United Nations nuclear watchdog on Saturday condemned the "disproportionate and unprecedented" move by Iran to withdraw accreditation from several of its most experienced inspectors.
Iran's Foreign Ministry said in response that the move was in retaliation for "political abuses" by the United States, France, Germany and Britain.
But Rafael Grossi, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said that this would seriously hamper the ability of the IAEA to carry out its work.