TEHRAN - Iran said Friday that the United States had yet to issue a promised visa for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to travel to the United Nations to address the Security Council on his country's controversial nuclear programme.
"Despite the official processing and American officials' promises in the media, the president's and his delegation's visas have not been issued up to this moment," deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi told the state news agency IRNA.
"It seems that American officials are creating problems ... in order to prevent the Iranian president's presence at the Security Council which would clarify facts and positions," he said.
The US State Department said on Monday that Washington had granted visas for Ahmadinejad and 38 aides and bodyguards so he can address the UN Security Council when it votes on a new sanctions resolution on Saturday.
Ahmadinejad has said he will present "new proposals" to end the standoff.
03/23/2007 10:52 GMT