SWITZERLAND: Iran applies for U.S. visa for President Ahmadinejad to attend U.N. Security Council to explain Iran's nuclear programme

Iran's Foreign Minister Manoucher Mottaki confirmed on Tuesday (March 13) that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was applying for a U.S. visa so he could tell the U.N. Security Council in New York in person that Iran's nuclear activities were peaceful. Speaking to reporters before a disarmament meeting in Geneva, Mottaki confirmed that Ahmadinejad had applied for a visa. "This is another important step on the Iranian initiative to brief the international community about Iran's position on its peaceful nuclear activities and to protect the right of the Iranian nation to enjoy its membership in the NPT and to have and realise its right," he said. "It's true in the highest level, we are going to participate in the Security Council at the presidential level, and the procedure and other necessary work will be done through our mission in New York". Mottaki was referring to the 1970 nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) which aims to halt the spread of atomic weapons but allows countries to use nuclear power for peaceful purposes. The five permanent Security Council members -- the United States, France, Britain, China and Russia -- plus Germany are discussing imposing new sanctions against Iran because it failed to meet a Feb. 21 deadline to suspend uranium enrichment, the process that can make atomic fuel or material for warheads.

ITN Source | March 13, 2007

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