TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) - An Iranian parliamentary committee has denied a request by U.S. Sen. John Kerry to visit Tehran, according to reports from Iran.
Kerry had requested a visit in December, Iran's semi-official Fars news agency reported.
The request was discussed and rejected by Iran's Foreign Relations Committee of the Parliament, according to Tabnak, a news Web site linked to past Iranian presidential candidate Mohsen Rezaie. It is unclear if this committee has the final say on whether Kerry can visit Tehran.
Kerry, D-Massachusetts, is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
The United States and Iran ended diplomatic relations in April 1980, following Iran's Islamic Revolution. President Barack Obama has made gestures toward re-establishing a
dialogue with Iran, but in recent months the Obama administration has sharpened its tone because of concerns over Iran's nuclear program.
Tehran maintains the program is for peaceful purposes, but the United States and other Western nations fear Iran wants to acquire nuclear weapons.
From CNN Politics
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Let him go–maybe Clinton (Bill) can negotiate to get him back.....and , maybe he can't...............
This the the great result of Obama's "outstretched hand".
The Iranians recognize that the US administration and the democrats are weak and Tehran has nothing to fear and nothing to respect.
Not a good sign at all. Without dialogue, our changes of diffusing any nuclear buildup is near none. We need to have open talks...to understand and learn more about what Iran's plan will be, and offer solutions that will shift US's perception towards peaceful purposes.
Of course...Republican's will certainly come out in droves to say that we need to continue the status quo...yeah, because that works, eh! Saying and doing nothing seems to be what Republican's are good at.
Being able to stand up to a bully is, in my opinion, showing stregth. Cowarding and being uncooperative will only result in the same from Iran.
Defiance the great rat in Iran is flipping us off with a game of chicken its showdown time do we put our bombs where our mouth is and take out there nuke plants.
I guess they really aren't in the mood to talk to anyone. I say we try someone who would really appeal to current president's style of loud and argumentative speeches - Rush Limbaugh! That should prove really funny.
They were for a visit before they were against it. They are kind of like liberals in the US aren't they.
The US State department ought to expel all Iranians in this country on any type of VISA, and that includes all Iranians working at the UN.
WHAT A EGO....give it a rest ,,,
Why does Kerry want to go there in the first place?
Even Iran knows this guy is irrelevant. Why do the Democrats insist on looking weak all the time?
Kerry has no business talking to any country on behalf of the US. That's not his job. The chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee doesn't do that. The Sec of State DOES.
Poor Hillary, she got the title but not the job.
On second thought–never mind Kerry–where is Al Gore when we need him to protect us from Global Freezing? No doubt hunkering down in his warm carbon spewing jet or his huge, warm palace using carbon credits up......
Too bad...I thought maybe they might keep him.
Iran's next civil war is on the horizon.
Kerry doesn't need to go there, he is a nobody and should learn to accept it.
"We've been thrown out of better places!..."
Really, would anything worthwhile or constructive come out of a trip to Tehran?
It would be a nice sight-seeing tour of Tehran, since it is indeed a beautiful city.
Kerry should now go visits Israel and maybe that will make Iran begin to sweat. Obama and his sanctions rattle no one. Threats from Israel will make Iran worry.
Tell me....what good would Kerry do anyway. He is among those who are soft on defense.
Kerry, I love ya, but this is not the actions of a sane man
Iran is moving towards a civil war... why?
He should stay here and let the true heroes of America go to Iran, the SWIFT BOAT VETERANS FOR TRUTH.
Of course they want nuclear weapons, what else would a hostile regime want? Is Kerry gearing up for another run and the Iranians saw through him?
This is embarrassing.