This photo released on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019 by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran shows centrifuge machines in Natanz uranium enrichment facility in central Iran. Iran announced on Monday that had started gas injection into a 30-machine cascade of advanced IR-6 centrifuges in Natanz complex. (Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AP)

This photo released on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019 by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran shows centrifuge machines in Natanz uranium enrichment facility in central Iran. Iran announced on Monday that had started gas injection into a 30-machine cascade of advanced IR-6 centrifuges in Natanz complex. (Atomic Energy Organization of Iran via AP)

VIENNA (AP) — The Latest on Iran’s nuclear program and the tensions in the Persian Gulf region (all times local):

7:50 p.m.

Israel’s prime minister alleges that a meeting earlier in the day of the U.N. nuclear watchdog “confirms that Iran lied” about its nuclear program.

Benjamin Netanyahu claimed in a video statement on Thursday that Iran “continues to hide its secret nuclear weapons program” and that the International Atomic Energy Agency’s special board meeting “confirms that Iran lied.”

Addressing the U.N. General Assembly last year, Netanyahu had described a “secret atomic warehouse” on the outskirts of Tehran.

ADVERTISEMENT

The IAEA released no information publicly about its discussions on the warehouse after its meeting in Vienna on Thursday.

Netanyahu’s claim came shortly after Iranian authorities acknowledged blocking an IAEA inspector from a nuclear site in Natanz last week — claiming they found she had traces of explosives material on her — amid rising tensions between Iran and the U.S. over its nuclear program.

___

6:40 p.m.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog says it “does not agree with” Iran’s claims about one of its inspectors testing positive for traces of explosives.

The U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency offered a rare statement to journalists on Thursday after Iran’s representative made the claim in Vienna.

The IAEA says that the “agency does not go into details in public about such matters, but based on the information available to us, the agency does not agree with Iran’s characterization of the situation involving the inspector, who was carrying out official safeguards duties in Iran.”

The IAEA added that it will “consult with Iran with a view to clarifying the situation.”

___

4:10 p.m.

Iran is alleging that a U.N. inspector it blocked from a nuclear site last week had tested positive for explosive nitrates.

Iran’s representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Kazem Gharibabadi, made the allegation on Thursday at a suddenly called meeting in Vienna.

He did not elaborate on why he thought the woman had the residue on her, though he said she went to the bathroom while waiting for a secondary screening and apparently removed the material. This happened at Iran’s Natanz nuclear facility.

There was no immediate comment from the IAEA.

This incident comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the U.S. over its nuclear program.

ADVERTISEMENT

___

2 p.m.

Iran has injected uranium gas into centrifuges deep inside its underground Fordo nuclear complex.

Thursday’s move is Tehran’s most-significant step away from its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers.

It also puts additional pressure on Europe to offer Iran a way to sell its crude oil abroad despite the U.S. sanctions imposed on the country since President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the nuclear deal over a year ago.

Tehran meanwhile also acknowledged blocking an official from the International Atomic Energy Agency from visiting its nuclear site at Natanz last week, the first known case of a United Nations inspector being blocked amid heightened tensions over its atomic program. Iran’s representative to the IAEA said Tehran had asked the agency never to send the inspector again, without elaborating on what happened.