Iran allowed a group of international envoys to visit one of its uranium enrichment facilities ahead of a new round of talks on its atomic program. No representatives from the major powers that are negotiating with Iran attended the tour.
Envoys from Syria, Algeria, Venezuela, Egypt, Oman and Cuba visited the site with Iran’s ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Ali Asghar Soltanieh, according to a report by the official Islamic Republic News Agency.
The European Union, Russia and China were invited to take part and declined. EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said Jan. 7 it’s the “role” of the IAEA to inspect nuclear sites in Iran.
Iran is under international sanctions for refusing to scale back its nuclear work, which the U.S. and allies say may be cover for weapons development. Iranian leaders deny the charge.
Iran resumed nuclear talks last month in Geneva with the so-called P5+1 nations -- United Nations Security Council permanent members China, France, Russia, the U.K. and the U.S. plus Germany -- after more than a year. The second round will take place in Istanbul on Jan. 21 and Jan. 22.
While Iran has agreed to pursue talks, it said it would “absolutely not” suspend the production of enriched uranium, a material that can fuel a reactor or, at higher concentrations, form the core of a bomb. The work is at the heart of the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program.
Iranian officials say the tour is part of Iran’s “policy of transparency.”
The foreign representatives visited the country’s uranium enrichment facility in Natanz, central Tehran, IRNA said. The visit follows a tour yesterday of Iran’s Arak heavy water facility, the report said.
The Persian Gulf state arranged a similar trip for foreign envoys in Feb. 2007.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-01-16/iran-holds-tour-of-nuclear-facility-for-international-envoys.html
By: William B. Robinson
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