Irish crooner Chris de Burgh defended on Tuesday plans for him to play a concert in Tehran which would make him the first Western big-name act to play in Iran since the 1979 Islamic revolution.

The 59-year-old said he would visit the country in May before making a final decision about whether to play in a 12 000-seater stadium sometime between June and August.

Last year De Burgh - one of the late princess Diana's favourite singers - recorded a song in English and Farsi with the Iranian group The Arian Band and the authorities gave him the green light to perform with them.

Tensions are high between Iran and the West over Tehran's refusal to suspend sensitive uranium enrichment operations - which some countries fear could be used to make a nuclear weapon.

"My friends and I are not politically naive - we know what the situation has been," De Burgh told Britain's Sky News television. "I'm very fortunate that my music has been accepted there.

"I go to sing for people, I do not go to sing for governments. We've thought about it for a long time. It's not just: 'We accept the invite, thanks very much, we're going to go'.

"Those people that say: 'You shouldn't go', I say to them: 'Well, what are you doing to make a difference?' I want to make a difference."

De Burgh is known for his soft rock ballads such as 'Lady in Red'.

The Arian Band's website said their link-up with De Burgh was "produced with the knowledge and approval of the Office of Music of the Ministry of Islamic Culture And Guidance".

Arian are a founder of modern Iranian pop and the first rock group in Iran to receive an official permit to perform.

Bands are strictly vetted for adherence to Islamic morals, though there is a considerable underground scene of bands who do not have the all-important official permit. Western music is strictly censored.

In 2004, British rock band Queen became the first to be given the official seal of approval with the release of a greatest hits album. The legendary group's frontman Freddie Mercury was of Persian descent.

AFP