US approves visa for Ahmadinejad to speak at UN

Washington, Mar 20: The United States has approved a visa for Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to enable him to address the UN Security Council over Tehran's nuclear program, the U.S.State Department said.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack yesterday said the United States had so far approved visas for 39 Iranian officials -- 13 diplomats and 26 security guards. He said Iran requested visas yesterday for 33 air crew members that were being processed.

''We are not going to be in any way hindering the ability of President Ahmadinejad to appear before the Security Council,'' the spokesman told reporters.

The United States is at loggerheads with Iran over its nuclear program and Ahmadinejad wants to address the Security Council in New York before it votes on a resolution imposing new arms and financial sanctions against Tehran.

A draft resolution introduced to the council last week would ban all Iranian arms exports, but not imports, and freeze financial assets abroad of 28 individuals, groups and companies.

The measure also requires Iran to halt uranium enrichment and the processing of nuclear fuel within 60 days after passage or face the possibility of additional sanctions.

Tehran argues that its nuclear plans are for peaceful power generation purposes while the United States and others say the main object of the program is to build a nuclear bomb.

McCormack said he hoped the Iranian president would use his time at the United Nations to seek dialogue rather than confrontation with the West.

He urged Ahmadinejad to accept an offer by the permanent five members of the UN Security Council, as well as Germany, to give up uranium enrichment and start negotiations with them over its nuclear program.

''This could be an important moment to accept that offer,'' said McCormack.

Reuters