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The European Union's refusal of Iran's invitation to tour its atomic plants will not affect talks with world powers concerned about Tehran's nuclear ambitions, the Iranian foreign ministry said Tuesday. The five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Britain, China, France, Russia and the US - plus Germany hope the talks, in Istanbul from January 21-22, will address their concerns about Tehran's nuclear program. Iran, which maintains its nuclear program is peaceful and for civilian use only, has invited foreign diplomats to visit its nuclear sites a week before the Istanbul talks. The EU rejected the invitation to visit Iran, the US was not invited and China and Russia have not responded. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman, Ramin Mehmanparast, urged the countries to accept the invitation as a "confidence building, positive measure." When asked whether Russia and China would join the visit, Mehmanparast said only, "We are studying that." EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton declined the invitation, saying it was the job of qualified inspectors, not diplomats, to examine nuclear facilities. Moscow said it was still considering the invitation. "We received this initiative with interest," Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said. "But we have our own questions and desires on this account. All these questions are being discussed, including with our Iranian partners," he said. The Chinese foreign ministry declined to comment Tuesday. China will maintain its communications with Iran on the matter, ministry spokesman Hong Lei said last week. Ali Baqeri, a deputy to Iran's nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, will visit Beijing today for talks with officials, Iran's ISNA news agency reported. Reuters |
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