Iran N-invitation aimed at transparency

Caretaker Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi says the invitation for visiting Iran’s nuclear sites is aimed at further transparency in Tehran’s nuclear program.

In a meeting with Swiss Deputy Foreign Minister Peter Maurer on Monday, Salehi advised Western countries to use the available opportunities.

Salehi added that the West should know that “pressuring the brave and independent nation of Iran, with its thousands of years old civilization and culture” will not be effective.

Last week, Iran invited envoys representing geographical and political groups in the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to visit Iran’s nuclear sites.

Iran’s invitation comes ahead of the multifaceted talks with the P5+1 — Britain, China, France, Russia, and the US plus Germany — scheduled for late January in Istanbul, Turkey.

In a politically-motivated move, the US accused Iran of developing a military nuclear program and used this pretext to pressure the UN Security Council to impose a fourth round of sanctions against Iran’s financial and military sectors in June.

Iranian officials have repeatedly refuted the charges, arguing that as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Tehran has a right to use peaceful nuclear technology.