A group of UN inspectors are on the way to visit a key uranium mine as part of a deal to allow expanded monitoring of the country's nuclear sites.

According to the Associated Press, nuclear spokesman Behrouz Kamalvandi was quoted by official IRNA news agency as saying that the inspectors were en route Wednesday, Jan 29, to Bandar Abbas to visit the nearby Gachin mine.

Tehran and the UN nuclear watchdog — the International Atomic Energy Agency — struck a deal in November that grants UN inspectors wider access to Iran's nuclear facilities.

The deal was parallel to an agreement with world powers to have Iran halt its most sensitive uranium enrichment activities in return for easing of Western sanctions over its controversial nuclear program.

Tehran denies Western charges that it seeks to make nuclear weapons.