Senior UN nuclear inspectors are expected to visit Iran "quite soon" to discuss their alleged concerns about the country's nuclear program, Reuters quoted an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) official as saying on Tuesday, MNA reported.
The Vienna-based UN nuclear watchdog and Iran "are working on the timing of a possible visit," the agency official, who declined to be named, told Reuters.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ramin Mehmanparast announced on January 3 that a delegation of IAEA officials will take a trip to Iran soon at the invitation of Tehran.
The delegation would probably be headed by Herman Nackaerts, the IAEA deputy director general and head of the Department of Safeguards.
Iran announced on August 23, 2011 that Nackaerts had recently taken tours of inspection to the Fordo and Natanz enrichment facilities, the Arak heavy water reactor, the Isfahan uranium conversion facility, and the Bushehr nuclear power plant.
IAEA inspectors' visit will probably come ahead of a possible new round of talks between Iran and the 5+1 group (the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany).
Iran and the six major powers have recently signaled readiness to resume nuclear talks.
Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu, in his visit to Tehran on January 4 and 5, carried a message from EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton to Iranian officials for a resumption of nuclear talks.
Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi also said at a joint press conference with Davutoglu on January 5 that the Islamic Republic is ready to resume talks with the 5+1 group at a time and place agreed by both sides.
Later, the Turkish foreign minister announced that Turkey will host new rounds of talks between Iran and the 5+1 group in the near future.