The delegation will be led by Elmar Brok, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, and the other members will be vice chairman Baroness Nicholson, Michael Gahler, rapporteur for relations with Iran, Glyn Ford and Demetrio Volcic.

According to an EP press release issued Friday, this visit is taking place at the invitation of the Iranian Parliament (Majlis).

A resolution adopted by the European Parliament on 13 December 2001, stipulates that an ad hoc delegation should be sent to Teheran to prepare the ground for future parliamentary relations and dialogue, it noted.

In Tehran the EP delegation will meet the Speaker of the Parliament, Mahdi Karrubi, Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi and President Mohammad Khatami.

In addition, MEPS will travel to Shiraz to visit a refugee camp and meet local officials.

The EP delegation intends to explore the possibilities for the conclusion of a future trade and cooperation agreement between Iran and the EU, and wants to begin the dialogue on political issues of common interest as well as on human rights, the press release concluded.

The visit is the first ever by an EP delegation to the Islamic Republic of Iran.