World Jewish News

U.S.: Iran offer for nuclear site visits a 'magical mystery tour'

The State Department is belittling Iran's offer to let some countries - but not the U.S. - visit its nuclear facilities, calling the offer a "magical mystery tour."
State Department spokesman P.J. Crowley said on Tuesday that the offer is no substitute for Iran fully cooperating with the International Atomic Energy Agency to prove that its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes and not to build a bomb.
Reporters asked Crowley how the U.S. felt about Iran's decision not to include the U.S. in the countries invited to tour a nuclear enrichment plant at Natanz and other facilities. Crowley responded sarcastically, saying, "We're just crushed."
While the State Department spokesman did not urge others to decline the invitation, he did say that there is no reason for any country to attend.
It was reported on Monday that Iran had invited Russia, China, the European Union and Iranian allies among the Arab and developing world to tour its nuclear sites, in an apparent move to gain support ahead of a new round of talks with six world powers.
In a letter made available Monday to The Associated Press, senior Iranian envoy Ali Asghar Soltanieh suggested the weekend of Jan. 15 and 16 and says that meetings "with high ranking officials" are envisaged.
While no reason was given for the timing of the offer, it came just weeks before Iran and the six powers follow up on recent talks that ended with agreement on little else but to meet again.
The new round between Tehran, and the permanent UN Security Council members - the U.S. Russia, China, Britain, France - plus Germany, is tentatively set for Istanbul, Turkey in late January.
It is meant to explore whether there is common ground for more substantive talks on Iran's nuclear program, viewed by the U.S, and its allies as a cover for secret plans to make nuclear arms - something Tehran denies.
Instead, the Islamic Republic insists its uranium enrichment and other programs are meant only to generate fuel for a future network of nuclear reactors.
Diplomats from delegations at the table with Iran during the December talks in Geneva said Tehran made no commitments to talking about UN Security Council demands that it freezes uranium enrichment - which can turn out both fuel and fissile warhead material. And Iranian negotiators flatly ruled out discussing such demands at the Istanbul meeting.

Haaretz.com