IAEA head visits Iran for nuke talks

TEHRAN, Jan. 11 (UPI) -- The top U.N. nuclear official arrived Friday in Tehran to discuss outstanding issues related to the country's nuclear program.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Mohamed ElBaradei was to meet with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad as well as Gholam Reza Aghazadeh, head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization; Saeed Jalili, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council; and other officials, KUNA, the Kuwait News Agency, reported Friday.

IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said in a statement that ElBaradei's two-day visit would focus on enhancing and accelerating the application of nuclear safeguards.

Gregory Schulte, the U.S. ambassador to the IAEA, said he doesn't expect progress from the visit due to the Iranian government's commitment to continuing nuclear activities and uranium enrichment.