Iranian President MahmoudAhmadinejad formally asked Friday, March 16, to address the UN Security Councilon a new draft resolution imposing wider sanctions against Tehran over its nuclear program.

"Should the American government issue a visa, Iwill definitely participate in the Security Council meeting and defend Iran'snuclear rights," Ahmadinejad said in statements carried by AgenceFrance-Presse (AFP).

South African UN Ambassador Dumisani Kumalo, councilpresident for March, said he had received a letter from his Iraniancounterpart, Javad Zarif, requesting the council visit by Ahmadinejad.

Under the provisions of the UN Charter, a countrythat is not a member of the council is entitled to attend council deliberationsthat directly concern it and to speak, but without the right to vote.

"I don't regard a probable consensus among the5+1 as an obstacle to my trip and I insist on my presence at the SecurityCouncil," Ahmadinejad said.

Six major world powers on Thursday, March 15, agreedon a package of new UN sanctions against Tehranfor its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment.

The new sanctions resolution was submitted to theSecurity Council's 10 non-permanent members ahead of a vote expected next week.

It would bar Iranfrom exporting arms and restrict the sale or transfer to Tehran of equipment including battle tanks,combat aircraft, attack helicopters and missiles.

It calls for a travel ban on additional officialsand companies involved in Iran's"proliferation-sensitive" nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

It also urges restrictions on "new commitmentsfor grants, financial assistance and concessional loans to Iran" as well as extending an assets freezeto additional entities and individuals linked to Iran's nuclear and missileprograms.

In December, a UN resolution barred the transfer oftechnology and sensitive nuclear materials to Iran.

The new resolution would give Iran 60 days tocomply with UN demands or face "further appropriate measures"(economic sanctions but no military action) under Article 41 of the UN Charter.

The United Statesaccuses Iran of seeking todevelop nuclear weapons, but Tehraninsists that its program is for peaceful civilian use.

Washington says it wants a diplomatic solution to the standoff but ithas never ruled out a military option to curb Iran's nuclear drive.

Award-winning American investigative reporterSeymour Hersh has revealed that the Pentagon recently formed a special group toplan an attack against Iranthat can be implemented, upon orders from the president, within 24 hours.

Moving Speedily

Ahmadinejad vowed that Iran would not yield tointernational pressures to abandon its nuclear fuel cycle.

"The Iranian nation possesses the nuclear fuelcycle and will not go back on that," he said.

"Don't think you can block the Iranian nation'spathway with these sittings and meetings? The Iranian nation is moving speedilyon the path to progress, and the enemies' pressures and threats do not affectthe nation's will."

As a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty,Iranhas a right to uranium enrichment.

International nuclear expert Hans Blix has said thatthe West's neo-colonial approach in dealing with Iranis humiliating and unfruitful and Tehranshould be given reasonable incentives to halt its nuclear program.

A report by the Oxford Research Group think tankwarned on March 5 that a military action against Iran could push it to embark on a"crash program" to make an atomic bomb as quickly as possible andwould rally all Iranians behind the nuclear option.

Source: Agencies