BRUSSELS, Jan. 4 (Xinhua) -- The European Parliament delegation for relations with Iran on Monday voiced surprise at the last-minute cancellation by Iranian authorities of its scheduled visit to Tehran later this week, saying that "political developments in Iran" would remain at the top of the European agenda.

    Delegation chair Barbara Lochbihler said the cancellation of the visit, set for Jan. 8 to 11, was "another sad illustration of how much the Iranian leadership opposes any discussion of the major unresolved problems in the country."

    The visit was to take place at a time of "great political upheaval" in Iran, Lochbihler said. The program therefore included official exchanges with representatives of the Majlis (the Iranian Parliament), the Foreign Ministry and business representatives, as well as a wide range of meetings with the political opposition and representatives of civil society.

    "The Tehran leadership apparently considered that the delegation's visit was a risk not worth taking," she said.