NJ Congressman Frustrated Over Failed Attempts To Get Visa To Iran

by David Madden

WASHINGTON DC (CBS) -- A South Jersey congressman is expressing frustration over his attempts to visit Iran with a pair of Republican colleagues, attempts that have been ignored by the Iranian government, and the Obama Administration's apparent lack of interest in assisting them.

Frank LoBiondo has been trying to get a visa to visit Iran since February. He wants to drop in on their nuclear sites, while colleagues seek to talk to Iranian hostages. The trio's request has gone ignored, he says, even as trade visas are granted and an Iranian banking official is set to visit Washington this week.

"Here we are encouraging and welcoming in a major Iranian figure to the United States when we think we're still being denied the opportunity to visit Iran and to be able to report back," LoBiondo told KYW Newsradio.

He is calling on the White House and the State Department to address what he calls a "hypocrisy" and assist them in opening doors to Tehran.