UN chief’s visit to Iran not final
Ban Ki-moon still considering participation in Tehran conference
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, left, meets with UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon at United Nations headquarters in 2009. (photo credit: AP/Jason DeCrow)
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s trip to Iran has not yet been finalized, a UN spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Tehran has said Ban committed to attending the Non-Aligned Movement’s conference in Tehran at the end of August. However, his journey has not yet been confirmed, London-based Arab language newspaper A-Sharq Al-Awsat reported, quoting the spokesperson.
The US as well as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had called upon Ki-moon not to participate in the triennial meeting.
“Even if it is not your intention, your visit will grant legitimacy to a regime that is the greatest threat to world peace and security,” Netanyahu told the UN secretary-general by phone at the beginning of the month.
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