Iranian president visits Kuwait

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived Monday for a brief visit to this small oil-rich ally of Washington, the same day Egypt's president was scheduled to visit.

Photo: Iranian president visits Kuwait

Iranian president visits Kuwait

Ahmadinejad's visit comes a day after Tehran and Moscow agreed in principle to establish a joint uranium enrichment venture, a breakthrough in talks on a U.S.-backed Russian proposal aimed at easing concerns that Iran wants to build nuclear weapons.

The Iranian president will meet with Kuwait's new emir, Sheik Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah, and speak to the press before he leaves in the early afternoon.

Ahmadinejad is not expected to meet Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak as he is scheduled to leave about an hour before the Egyptian leader's arrival in the afternoon.

Tehran's agreement with Russia could deflect any move by the U.N. nuclear watchdog agency at a March 6 meeting to recommend that the U.N. Security Council consider action on Iran.

Arab countries in the Gulf, including Kuwait, are concerned that any nuclear accident in Iran, across the Gulf, could have devastating effects on them. They also are worried about regional arms races.

They have urged dialogue in Tehran's standoff with the West over its nuclear power, reports the AP.

I.L.