Group to tour Iran nuclear sites

Tehran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful civilian purposes

A group of foreign diplomats is expected to begin a two-day tour of some of Iran’s nuclear sites.

Iran has said that the tour is a gesture of goodwill and transparency.

The move comes ahead of the resumption of talks about Iran’s nuclear programme with permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany.

Western nations suspect that Iran is attempting to build nuclear weapons, but Tehran says its nuclear programme is for peaceful civilian purposes.

Iran guards its nuclear sites pretty closely, but now ambassadors from Egypt, Algeria, Venezuela, Syria, and the Arab League will get their own tour of two locations – an enrichment facility at Natanz, and a heavy water reactor at Arak.

But, for the hosts, there is a problem. There may be some empty seats on the minibus.

The European Union turned down its invitation, saying that a tour for diplomats was not a substitute for proper visits by inspectors.

It also looks like Russia and China have decided to stay away.

And the United States, which was not invited, has called the tour a ploy.

It is unlikely that the event will change many people’s minds about the nature of Iran’s nuclear programme.

Diplomats who are not nuclear scientists or weapons inspectors will not be able to give a definitive answer one way or another.

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