European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell. (Photo: AFP/ VNA)

Saeed Khatibzadeh, the ministry's spokesman, said that Josep is expected to with Iran’s Foreign Minister and several other officials. The visit, part of the consultations between Iran and the European Union (EU), focuses on bilateral relations, a number of international and regional issues, as well as new  negotiations to lift sanctions on Iran. 

The surprise visit came after Iranian Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian said last week that Iran remained confident that negotiations could succeed. 

Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with several world powers in 2015 accepting to put some curbs on its nuclear program in return for the removal of the sanctions. However, former US President Donald Trump pulled the US out of the agreement in 2018 and reimposed Washington's sanctions, prompting Iran to reduce some of its nuclear commitments under the agreement in retaliation.