WASHINGTON, March 19 (Xinhua) -- The United States
has granted a total of 39 visas to Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his
entourage for their participation of a meeting of the UN Security Council this
week, the State Department said Monday.
"The breakdown of that would be 13 diplomats and 26
security," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said of the U.S. approval
of Iran's request for visas.
The United States will soon approve Iran's additional
request for visas for 33 air crew once that process has been completed, the
spokesman said.
"We are not going to be in any way hindering the
ability of President Ahmadinejad to appear before the Security Council," he
said.
The UN Security Council is due to meet Wednesday to
review a draft sanctions resolution against Iran agreed last week by the five
permanent members of the UN Security Council -- the United States, Britain,
China, France and Russia -- plus Germany.
The Iranian leader is expected to address the UN
Security Council to defend Iran's nuclear right.
Washington and Tehran severed diplomatic ties in 1979
Islamic revolution in Iran.
The United States granted the Iranian leader a visa
last year so that he could attend the UN General Assembly held in New York in
September last year.
The United States has accused Iran of trying to
develop nuclear weapons under the cover of civilian nuclear programs. Iran
rejects the accusation, stressing its nuclear programs are for peaceful purposes
only.
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