US Librarian of Congress visits Iran as nuclear tensions rise

WASHINGTON (AFP) — The chief of the US Library of Congress is visiting Iran this week to explore expanding the facility's Iranian document collection as tensions between Washington and Tehran soar over the Islamic republic's nuclear program, US officials said.

Librarian of Congress James Billington is leading a small delegation on the rare trip which also comes as Iranians celebrate the 25th anniversary of the November 1979 seizure of the US embassy in Tehran during the country's Islamic revolution, the officials said.

"The purpose of Dr Billington's trip to Iran is purely cultural," said Helen Dalrymple, a spokeswoman for the Library of Congress. "The Library of Congress is interested in expanding its collection of Iranian publications.

"The process of collection has been curtailed since the Islamic Revolution in 1978-79, and the Library wishes to ensure that Congress is well served with printed, digital and other materials ...