( IRNA ) - South African Ambassador to the UN Dumisani Kumalo said here Tuesday that the 15 members of the Security Council are to hold a session on Wednesday at 1700 hours (local time) to discuss further a draft resolution seeking additional sanctions on Iran.
Kumalo, whose country holds the rotating chair of the Security Council, added that certain non-permanent members were not happy with consultations held by the five permanent members -- China, Russia, Britain, France and the US -- over the past 10 days on the proposed resolution.
He said in today's session, the five permanent members are to brief non-permanent members on their discussions and whether any consensus has been achieved.
He added that he held talks with Iran's Ambassador to the UN Mohammad-Javad Zarif on President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's plan to attend the Security Council session scheduled for late March.
The South African ambassador quoted Zarif as saying the Iranian government was determined to have the visit take place, adding that it would send a letter to the Security Council in this regard.
In accordance with UN implementing rules and regulations, the Iranian president's desire to attend the session should be respected, particularly because the Security Council is currently discussing Iran's nuclear case, he said.
Kumalo said he would be surprised if permanent members of the Council rejected President Ahmadinejad's request.
China's UN Ambassador Wang Guangya also told reporters that the five permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany (5+1 Group) have had secret meetings during which the sides made progress in bringing their stances closer.
The main goal of the Security Council is to strengthen the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and to bring the parties to resume talks, the ambassador said.