US skeptical of Iran president addressing UN Council

WASHINGTON, Mar 12 (Reuters) The United States, which holds a veto on the UN Security Council, voiced skepticism today about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's wish to go before the Council to defend Iran's civilian nuclear plans.

''I'm not sure what purpose that would serve,'' said State Department spokesman Tom Casey.

The West believes Iran is developing a nuclear weapon under cover of its civilian nuclear work. Iran denies this, saying its nuclear program is to generate electricity.

The Security Council's five permanent members -- Britain, France, Germany, Russia and the United States -- are discussing a second resolution to impose sanctions on Iran for its failure to suspend uranium enrichment, a process that can yield fuel for power plans or for nuclear weapons.

Iranian state TV on Sunday quoted government spokesman Gholamhossein Elham as saying: ''The president of Iran plans to speak in a possible meeting of the Security Council on Iran's nuclear program to defend the right of the Iranian nation to use peaceful nuclear technology.'' It gave no further details.

''The issue here is not explaining Iran's presumed right to civilian nuclear power, the issue here is getting at international community concerns about Iran's nuclear programs and its pursuit of nuclear weapons,'' Casey told reporters.

He said no one rejected Iran's right to a peaceful civilian nuclear power program.

''Everyone is objecting to Iran using such a program as a cover for building a nuclear weapon and that is why Iran finds itself under (UN) Chapter Seven sanctions,'' he said.

He said talks were continuing for a new UN resolution against Iran. ''We will keep working on it,'' he said.

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