Iran wants a Security Council seat.

Christian Science Monitor:

After a visit to New York and the United Nations General Assembly at which Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad came in for tough questions about his country’s violations of basic human rights and its nuclear program, he’s embarked on a tour of Latin America where it looks assured he’ll receive a much warmer reception. Analysts say that the Iranian leader hopes to build ties in the south in order to help the nation’s bid for a seat on the UN Security Council.