EU visit to Iran scrapped

The head of a European Parliament delegation says that a trip to Iran that would have included meetings with the opposition was blocked at the last moment by authorities.

The chair of the delegation, Barbara Lochbihler, says the the five-day trip was to have started on Thursday but was blocked over the weekend by Iran's embassy in Brussels.

The German lawmaker said Monday the move was "further proof of the Iranian authorities' blank refusal to allow any serious discussion" about the unrest in the country.

At least eight people died in clashes between security forces and opposition supporters across Iran late last month and protests have continued.

The Iranian embassy did not immediately respond to requests for comment.