International Atomic Energy Agency chief Yukiya Amano was expected to hold talks in Tehran, seeking a way around one of the thorniest issues in the long-running talks: a stalled probe into Iran's suspected nuclear bomb development.
The foreign ministers of France, Germany, Britain and China were expected to join the main talks in Vienna, where US Secretary of State John Kerry and Iran's Mohammad Javad Zarif have been locking horns since Saturday.
"We are working very, very hard and we have some very difficult issues," Kerry said yesterday, a day after the deadline for a deal was effectively extended to July 7.
"But we believe we're making progress and we're going to continue to work because of that," he told reporters.
Amano's visit to Tehran at Iran's invitation, where he will meet President Hassan Rouhani and other officials, is aimed at jump-starting a stalled probe into allegations of past suspicious nuclear activity by Iran.
But Iran rejects the allegations that its nuclear programme had "possible military dimensions" saying they were based on bogus intelligence provided by the CIA and Israel's Mossad.
It also baulks at the desire of the IAEA - which it sees as biased and riddled with spies - to visit military sites such as Parchin and interview its scientists.
One possible compromise might be strictly controlled "managed access" visits that reassure Iran that IAEA staff are not spying on its military facilities under the guise of inspections, experts say.
Amano's visit would "hopefully" pave the way to the resolution a "sticking point" in the talks, Davenport told AFP.
Iranian agency ISNA said the country's leaders would offer "suggested solutions" to the deadlock.
You’ve reached your limit of {{free_limit}} free articles this month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
Already subscribed? Log in
Subscribe to read the full story →
Smart Quarterly
₹900
3 Months
₹300/Month
Smart Essential
₹2,700
1 Year
₹225/Month
Super Saver
₹3,900
2 Years
₹162/Month
Renews automatically, cancel anytime
Here’s what’s included in our digital subscription plans
Exclusive premium stories online
Over 30 premium stories daily, handpicked by our editors


Complimentary Access to The New York Times
News, Games, Cooking, Audio, Wirecutter & The Athletic
Business Standard Epaper
Digital replica of our daily newspaper — with options to read, save, and share


Curated Newsletters
Insights on markets, finance, politics, tech, and more delivered to your inbox
Market Analysis & Investment Insights
In-depth market analysis & insights with access to The Smart Investor


Archives
Repository of articles and publications dating back to 1997
Ad-free Reading
Uninterrupted reading experience with no advertisements


Seamless Access Across All Devices
Access Business Standard across devices — mobile, tablet, or PC, via web or app
