AP: President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad insisted Friday that new sanctions won’t force Iran to give up its right to enrich uranium, and he blasted the U.N. Security Council as an instrument used by “bullying” Western nations against Tehran.

Reuters: The United States said on Friday it will handle a visa request from Iran’s president to appear at the United Nations quickly and hoped he would use any trip to open talks with the West on Iran’s nuclear program.

AP: Security Council members have raised no objections to a request from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to speak right before they vote on a resolution that would impose new sanctions on Iran for refusing to suspend uranium enrichment, the council president said Friday.

Iran Focus: Tehran, Iran, Mar. 16 – A top aide to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei threatened the United Nations Security Council, saying that any resolution adopted against Iran over its nuclear activities would have reprisals.

Reuters: Iran, under fire from the big powers over its atomic programme, on Friday criticised Britain’s plans to renew its nuclear arsenal as a “serious setback” to international disarmament efforts.

Reuters: Iran said on Friday no amount of U.N. pressure would deter it from its nuclear program, a day after major powers agreed a plan to impose new sanctions.

New York Times: The Security Council received on Thursday a draft of a new resolution to impose sanctions on Iran for its defiance of demands that it suspend its nuclear enrichment activities and return to negotiations over its nuclear program.

AP: Iran’s U.N. Mission sent a letter Thursday requesting that President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad be allowed to speak before the Security Council when it votes on new sanctions against Tehran for its refusal to suspend uranium enrichment, the council president said.