Brussels, 05/01/2011 (Agence Europe) - A spokesman for Catherine Ashton, the EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, said on Wednesday 5 January that the visiting of Iranian nuclear sites was the responsibility of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The spokesman was speaking in response to a question raised during the midday meeting regarding an invitation sent to various countries by Tehran. Countries receiving an invitation included Hungary, which is holding the rotating EU presidency, and two of the Group 5 + 1 countries (Russia and China) that are negotiating with Iran on its controversial nuclear programme, while the United States, the United Kingdom, France and Germany were excluded. Catherine Ashton expects discussions to resume with Iran on its nuclear programme at the end of January, in Istanbul. (Gp/transl.jl)