Ban defies US, Israel to join summit in Iran

NEW YORK (Yonhap) -- In a decision contrary to U.S. and Israeli positions, U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon will attend a Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Iran next week, according to his office.

Ban "takes seriously his responsibility and that of the United Nations to pursue diplomatic engagement with all of its member states," it said in a statement, announcing the closely watched decision.

The summit of 120 member states, which claim not to be aligned to any major power bloc, will take place in Teheran Aug. 29-31.

It's not unusual for a U.N. chief to join the summit, held every few years.

The venue for this year's meeting is diplomatically sensitive, however, with Iran continuing to develop its nuclear program.

The U.S. said Iran does not deserve to host the conference, although it publicly said it's up to Ban whether he will go there.

U.S. officials expressed concern that Iran will try to use the summit to justify its nuclear weapons drive and deflect the international community's efforts to deal with it.

"He needs to use the opportunity to reflect the view of the international community with regards to Iran's behavior," State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland said at a press briefing after the U.N. announcement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said earlier that Ban's attendance would be a "horrible mistake" that grants "legitimacy" to a recalcitrant regime.

Meanwhile, the NAM meeting may set the stage for a meeting between Ban, formerly a South Korean foreign minister, and North Korea's ceremonial head of state, Kim Yong-nam.

Kim is expected to lead the North Korean delegation to the summit.

South Korea, which is not a member of the NAM, also plans to send a team of officials to observe.