UNITED NATIONS - The world's most powerful nations failed to agree on new sanctions against Iran amid reports that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wants to put Tehran's case for a nuclear program before the U.N. Security Council.
The surprise announcement about Ahmadinejad's intention to fly to New York came in the throes of intense debate Sunday among the five veto-wielding permanent council members — the U.S., Russia, China, Britain and France — and Germany on additional measures to pressure Iran to suspend uranium enrichment.
South Africa's U.N. Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo, whose country holds the rotating Security Council presidency, said Ahmadinejad had not made a formal request to address the U.N.'s most powerful body, but if he did, "it would be very difficult to deny him that opportunity."
Kumalo said he would "be open to consulting" with the other council members on scheduling Ahmadinejad's appearance. "I would be surprised if they said they don't want to hear him," he told The Associated Press.
Whether an appearance before the Security Council by Ahmadinejad would affect the contents or vote on a new U.N. resolution remains to be seen.
Iranian TV on Sunday quoted government spokesman Gholam Hossein Elham as saying Ahmadinejad "intends to attend a U.N. Security Council meeting to be held on Iran's nuclear case in order to defend the rights of the Iranian nation in exploiting peaceful nuclear energy."
|