Ban won't visit Iran's nuclear sites

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UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 28 (UPI) -- There are no plans for U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to visit nuclear sites during his trip to Iran this week, a spokesman said.

Ban is among dignitaries expected to attend a conference for members of the Non-Aligned Movement in Tehran.

His visit follows meetings last week in Vienna between Iranian officials and members of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The IAEA, in a statement, said talks were amicable but questions remained about possible military dimensions to Iran's nuclear program.

A spokesman for Ban said there are no plans for Ban to visit Iranian nuclear sites, but added in a statement "it would be welcome" if Iran extended an invitation to members of the IAEA.

Tehran denies accusations its nuclear program is geared toward a weapon, saying it's conducting medical and energy-related research.

Zohreh Tabibzadeh, a member of the Iranian Parliament, told Iran's semiofficial Fars News Agency the NAM meeting was indicative of Washington's failed diplomatic endeavors.

"The presence of 120 countries in the Tehran summit, despite the United States' aggressive stance on the NAM meeting ... demonstrates the United States and its allies' retreat on the international scene and signifies Iran's powerful role," he said Tuesday.