World Bulletin / News Desk

United Nations nuclear agency chief Yukiya Amano will travel to Tehran on Sunday for talks with senior Iranian officials, the Vienna-based IAEA said on Friday.

The surprise development comes as Western diplomats say the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Iran are making headway towards a framework deal.

Amano "will travel to Tehran this Sunday...to discuss issues of mutual interest with high Iranian officials", the IAEA said in a statement. The IAEA said Amano would hold talks on Monday.