IAEA has carried out regular inspections of Iran's nuclear sites in past under terms of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which Iran is a signatory

Iranian officials say the government has barred 38 United Nations atomic inspectors from coming to check on Iran's nuclear facilities.

Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki told reporters Monday in Tehran that refusing the inspectors entry into Iran is legal. He said member states of the U.N. nuclear agency have the right to oppose the visit of certain inspectors.

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Senior Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi told the student news agency the move is in line with a new law that requires the government to revise its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Iran's parliament adopted the law last month in response to a U.N. Security Council resolution imposing sanctions on Iran because of its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment.

In Brussels Monday, European Union foreign ministers called on the 27 EU countries to implement the sanctions "in full and without delay."

IAEA officials have carried out regular inspections of Iran's nuclear sites in the past under the terms of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, to which Iran is a signatory.

Iranian officials say they will continue enriching uranium despite the sanctions. They say they will use nuclear fuel for peaceful purposes. The West suspects Tehran of seeking to produce atomic weapons.