UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei will visit Iran on Thursday to continue talks aimed at clarifying Tehran's nuclear ambitions, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) news agency reported today.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in a tough resolution last month, gave Iran until October 31st to dispel US-led concerns its nuclear facilities could be used to make atomic arms.
"Mohamed ElBaradei is visiting Iran on Thursday," IRNA quoted an adviser to President Mohammad Khatami as saying.
UN inspectors arrived in Iran two weeks ago, and Mr Khatami has said Tehran would provide whatever co-operation was needed to prove that it is not developing nuclear arms
Despite such assurances, Western diplomats remain sceptical that Iran will do enough to enable the IAEA to give its nuclear programme a clean bill of health in its next report in November.
Mr ElBaradei has warned that if Tehran fails to co-operate fully Iran's case may be sent to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions.