Remarks by Assistant Secretary Philip J. Crowley on Iran Nuclear Facilities Tour (Excerpts)

January 4, 2011

Weapon Program: 

  • Nuclear

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QUESTION: On Iran, the meetings today in Geneva, do you have any kind of readout of QUESTION: Can we go to Iran first? How upset are you that you didn't get this invitation for the all-inclusive, all-expenses-paid luxury tour of Iranian nuclear facilities?

MR. CROWLEY: We're just crushed. (Laughter.)

QUESTION: You're crushed? You're going to be sitting by the phone waiting for a call?

MR. CROWLEY: I mean, just to reaffirm, we keep checking our inbox, and no invitation has materialized. So - but I mean, these are antics that we've seen from Iran in the past where they try to kind of flash a shiny object and said, "No, don't look over there; look here." This magical mystery tour, if you want to describe it as that, is not a substitute for what Iran has to do, which is to cooperate fully and transparently with the IAEA. If I understand, the invitation is to visit facilities at Natanz and Arak. On the one hand, there's no need for a special tour to those facilities. The IAEA - which inspectors who do know what they're looking for, visit these facilities periodically. But we should just be reminded that the IAEA has said that - and made clear that the - Iran has not yet been able to fully answer the questions that have been raised about its nuclear programs. And so this tour or whatever Iran has planned is not a substitute for sustained, credible, and transparent interaction with the IAEA.

QUESTION: Is the U.S. encouraging members of the EU 3+3, those that may have received invitations, to turn them down?

MR. CROWLEY: Actually, I'm not aware that necessarily the E3 have received invitations either. I'll defer to -

QUESTION: Well, how about members of the P-5 then?

MR. CROWLEY: I mean, we would not see - if we're asked for our view, we're not attending, but we do not see any reason for others to attend either.

QUESTION: Are you actively discouraging it, though? Do you think it's a bad idea? Does it somehow cloud the waters over - with the talks coming up?

MR. CROWLEY: I don't think it will cloud - it's a pretty clear public relations stunt by Iran. So we don't think that anyone who might take this tour is going to learn anything substantive on such a visit.

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