January 8, 2011 - 12:07 AMT
EU likely to turn down Iran’s invitation to tour nuclear sites

The European Union plans to reject Iran's invitation for EU ambassadors to tour the country's nuclear sites.

The EU's foreign policy chief, Baroness Catherine Ashton, said it was the job of the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to examine Iran's nuclear sites.

Iran says it will open its nuclear facilities to envoys from several countries, including Russia and China, but not the U.S.

"What I'll be saying is the role of the inspections of nuclear sites is for the IAEA and I do hope Iran will ensure that the IAEA is able to go and continue and fulfill its work," Baroness Ashton said.

Earlier the U.S. State Department dismissed Iran's offer of an inspection tour by diplomats as a "clever ploy", BBC reported.

Iran and world powers are set to meet on January 20 in Istanbul.