Tehran confirms Ahmadinejad trip to UN HQ in New York

Daily Times:

Iran confirmed on Sunday that hardline president-elect Mahmood Ahmadinejad will attend the UN General Assembly in New York in September, dismissing any possible US visa restrictions in the wake of allegations of his role in the US embassy siege.

“Yes, Mr Ahmadinejad and the accompanying delegation will go to New York to take part in the UN world summit, he will also meet with the Iranians there,” foreign ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi told reporters. READ MORE

Asefi again denied US allegations about Ahmadinejad’s possible role in the 1979 hostage-taking at the US embassy in Tehran following the Islamic revolution, a crisis that led to the severing of diplomatic ties. He also dismissed suggestions that Ahmadinejad, who takes office on August 3 following a stunning election victory, will face any restrictions on entering US soil.

“I think there is absurd propaganda against Mr Ahmadinejad and we have answered it many times... There is no legal foundation for not issuing a visa and entering the US. It is very unlikely the US will commit such an error.”

As president of a UN member state, Ahmadinejad is covered by diplomatic immunity. UN headquarters in New York are also considered international territory, and not property of the United States.

The United States severed ties with Iran in April 1980 after a group of radical student followers of revolutionary leader Ayatollah Khomeini stormed the US embassy in Tehran and held 52 of its staff hostage for 444 days.

Diplomatic relations remain cut to this day. Conservative newspapers said Saturday that Ahmadinejad will address world leaders on Iran’s nuclear activities and its relations with the international community.

The White House on Thursday said it has concluded that Amhadinejad was a leader of the movement behind the 1979 hostage crisis but is unsure whether he participated. “In terms of the president, we’ve looked into the allegations that were made about his involvement in the 1979 hostage crisis. We know he was a leader of the student movement that organised the attack on the embassy and the taking of American hostages,” the White House said.

However, according to US newspapers, a CIA photo analyst concluded that a man leading a blindfolded hostage in a widely distributed picture is not Ahmadinejad.

Iranians who participated in the standoff have denied that Ahmadinejad was involved.

Tensions are also high between Iran and the United States over the Islamic republic’s nuclear programme.

The United States accuses oil-rich Iran of using a civilian nuclear energy programme to cover up activities linked to developing atomic weapons. Tehran has rejected the charge and said it has a right to nuclear power.

Is this legal? We need to ask our government official about this, now.