Thread: Iranian President is going to be in New York this weekend?

U.S.: Ahmadinejad Visa En Route to Iran

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran complained Friday that the United States had not issued a visa for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to attend a U.N. Security Council debate on Saturday. Washington denied the allegation, saying the president's passport was on its way to Tehran.

The Iranian leader wants to address the Security Council before it votes on a resolution that would expand sanctions on Iran over its refusal to cease uranium enrichment _ a process that can make nuclear reactor fuel, or the fissile material for a nuclear warhead.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Iranian state-run radio that "despite going through administrative procedures and (U.S.) promises in the media, the government of the United States has not yet issued a visa to our president."

The confusion made it unclear whether Ahmadinejad would be able to leave Iran early enough to reach New York in time to address the Security Council.

Daniel Wendell, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Bern, Switzerland, said Ahmadinejad's and other Iranian officials' passports had been handed over in Bern on Friday. Another 31 other passports for support staff were to ready later in the day. The passports would then be taken by courier to Tehran in time for the Iranians to fly to New York.

Mohammad Mir Ali Mohammadi, the press secretary for Iran's U.N. mission, said Ahmadinejad would likely make the Security Council session only if it were held late Saturday.

The United States says Iran's nuclear efforts are cover for a weapons program, but Tehran insists it only wants electricity. The Security Council imposed limited sanctions on Iran in December for its refusal to stop uranium enrichment.

Alejandro Wolff, the acting U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, said the nuclear debate should not be affected by the Iranian seizure of 15 British sailors and marines in the Persian Gulf Friday.

Wolff said that Washington has granted every visa request from the Iranian delegation. Some new ones made late Thursday were being processed, he said.

http://www.foxnews.com/wires/2007Mar23/ ... sa,00.html

Perfect time to ARREST the Terrorist murderer for taking American hostages and then MURDERING THEM!

I've not forgotten.......how about the rest of America?

UNITED NATIONS (CNN) -- Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has canceled a planned visit to the United Nations, and Tehran's U.N. ambassador, Javad Zarif, on Friday blamed a delay in U.S. visas being issued to the crew of his airplane.

Ahmadinejad wanted to speak to the U.N. Security Council before a vote, scheduled for 3 p.m. ET Saturday, on sanctions against Iran.

Iran, which contends the proposed sanctions are politically motivated, says it will still try to get high-level representation to the U.N. -- most likely the foreign minister.

The planned vote comes after the U.N.'s atomic energy watchdog agency said last month it could not verify that Iran's uranium enrichment program was strictly for peaceful purposes, as Iran has said. Western nations, including the United States, contend Iran is using the program to develop nuclear weapons.

The five permanent members of the Security Council and Germany agreed on a resolution to expand sanctions on Iran and presented it to the council last week, but several nations said they wanted to amend it.

Alejandro Wolfe, the acting U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Thursday that some amendments were agreed to, but he offered no details about those.

"We embraced amendments that were consistent with the philosophy of this resolution ... and those that would enhance its clarity and enhance its value," he said.

Also Thursday, Dumisani Kumalo, the U.N. ambassador from South Africa, which holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council this month, said he felt steamrollered into a Saturday vote on the resolution.

"I feel like I was misled," he said, adding that he had been led to believe that he would have more time to consider the resolution.

But French Ambassador Jean-Marc de la Sabliere rebutted Kumalo's comments, saying discussions have gone on for some time.

"And we have the whole day tomorrow to discuss it," he said.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/meast/03/ ... index.html