Iran Says No U.S. Visa Yet For Ahmadinejad

President Ahmadinejad delivering a speech in Yazd earlier this month (Fars) March 23, 2007 -- Tehran says Washington has so far failed to provide a promised visa to Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad so he can address the UN Security Council in New York when it meets to vote on proposed new sanctions against Iran.

However, the U.S. government said today that it has approved visas for Ahmadinejad and other diplomats -- disputing Tehran's claim. The U.S. State Department had already announced on March 19 that visas had been granted for Ahmadinejad and 38 aides and bodyguards.

The vote is expected to take place on March 24.

Ahmadinejad has said he will present "new proposals" to end the standoff over Iran's nuclear program.

(AFP, dpa)

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