EU refuses Iran's nuclear tour offer

The European Union has turned down an offer from Iran to tour its nuclear facilities. Tehran had invited Hungary, which holds the EU's revolving presidency, and International Atomic Energy Agency ambassadors to visit the Natanz uranium enrichment plant and the Arak heavy-water complex .

But absent from the guest list were diplomats from the United States, Britain, France and Germany, all nations heavily involved in applying pressure on Iran to suspend its uranium enrichment.

Russia and China, which tend to take a softer line on Iran, were also invited, but have yet to respond publicly to Tehran.