United Nations nuclear inspectors have arrived in Iran to visit two nuclear facilities.

Their trip was postponed by Tehran for two weeks to protest a resolution adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency's board of governors criticizing Tehran for hiding sensitive information about its nuclear program.

IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming says the team will conduct inspections at the Natanz gas centrifuge enrichment facility and the Isfahan nuclear research center.

Previously, inspectors found traces of highly enriched uranium at the Natanz facility. Iran said that was the result of contamination in the country where the equipment originated.

In a related development, the Los Angeles Times newspaper reports Saturday Iran has set up a committee to coordinate efforts to conceal key elements of its nuclear program from international inspectors.

The newspaper quotes Western diplomats as saying the committee was established late last year and reports to senior Iranian officials. The diplomats' information comes from an intelligence report prepared by a country other than the United States.

If the existence of such a committee is confirmed, it would strengthen Washington's assertion that Iran is trying to hide a secret atomic weapons program. Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is for the civilian production of energy.

... Payvand News - 3/28/04 ... --