( Fars News Agency) As Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad departed to New York to attend the United Nations General Assembly, Tehran on Sunday complained of US treatment of Iran's diplomatic personnel, saying the United States was making itself an unsuitable host for international fora .
The US has refused to issue entry visas for a number of Iranian officials and journalists, including Iran's ambassador to Switzerland, Ali-Reza Moayeri , and further rejected Ahmadinejad's request to visit the site of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
"All President Ahmadinejad wanted to do was paying his respects and tribute at the site to the victims. We do not understand what harm it would have caused to the American administration," Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini said in his weekly press briefing.
Hosseini confirmed earlier reports that Ahmadinejad on Monday planned to give a speech at the University of Columbia and answer questions by students and lecturers.
"But some US circles are also planning to sabotage this plan as well," the spokesman said.
Ahmadinejad is due to address the UN General Assembly on Tuesday.