Despite uncertainty, the U.S. Department of State granted the travel visa for the Iran’s president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to attend the United Nation’s 60th Anniversary.

The meeting begins on September 14, 2005 at the United Nation’s headquarter in New York. The United States has been questioning his possible role in the 1979 seizure of the U.S. embassy in Tehran and, therefore, his ability to enter the United States. Although the U.S. granted the visa, an inter-agency review initially found Ahmadinejad to be ineligible under immigration rules barring visas to those for whom there are reasons to believe have supported or furthered acts of terrorism. This initial ruling was overruled at the urging of Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

The State Department made it clear that the decision to grant the visa in no way indicates a change in the United States' policy, or views, toward the Iranian government.

Similarly, the Speaker of the Iran’s Parliament (Majlis), Golam- Ali Haddad-Adel, was scheduled to attend the Second World Conference of Speakers of Parliament at the United Nations' New York headquarters from September 7-9.

The trip was suddenly canceled, by Haddad-Adel, when his visa was delayed. Iranian officials believe the delay was intentional, and Haddad-Adel, asserted that Washington cannot take hostage international organizations whose headquarters are situated on its soil. More than 150 speakers of parliaments attend the conference organized by the Inter-Parliamentary Union at the UN headquarters.

In the aftermath of what President George W. Bush called one of the worst natural disasters in US history, victims of Hurricane Katrina are attempting to recover from the massive storm that hit the Gulf States. The American Iranian Council urges its supporters to look for appropriate ways to contribute to the response.

Below please find a few websites where you can submit donations:

The next International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) meeting is scheduled for September 19, 2005 in Vienna. The meeting is likely to lead Iran to be referred to the UN Security Council, where possible sanctions will be enacted. Iran’s nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, a hardliner put in place following the presidential election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, is seeking support from the non-western countries, both as a defense against Euro-American pressure and to further nuclear development. Iran believes that countries such as India, Russia, Pakistan and China can help solve the impending nuclear crisis by defending Iran’s legal rights and their own investment in the program. Larijani is visiting the Pakistan this week to garner support.