US Denies Visas To Members Of Iranian President’s UN Delegation

The United States has denied visas to some members of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s delegation, including members of his communications team, ahead of his planned trip to New York for this week’s United Nations General Assembly, Iranian state media reported Monday.

Pezeshkian is expected to become the highest-ranking Iranian official to visit the United States since the Middle East war began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February.

Iran’s state news agency, IRNA, described the visa denials as an “unprecedented hostile move” by the administration of US President Donald Trump.

“In an unprecedented hostile move by the US government, Trump has denied US visas to certain members of the president’s high-level delegation, including members of his communications team,” IRNA reported.

The Mehr news agency also reported the development, citing a spokesperson for the Iranian presidency, and said Pezeshkian is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.

Although Washington has authorised the Iranian delegation to travel to the United States for the General Assembly, the delegation will face restrictions similar to those imposed during last year’s visit.

The US State Department said on Thursday that members of the Iranian delegation would, among other restrictions, be barred from purchasing luxury goods and certain other items during their stay.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is part of the delegation, left Iran on Sunday evening and travelled to Qatar for a stopover before proceeding to the United States.

The diplomatic development comes amid heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and gas shipments.

Iran says it has conveyed conditions to the United States, through Qatar as a mediator, for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran has choked off since the war began.

The United States, meanwhile, has imposed a counter-blockade on Iranian ports, further escalating tensions between the two countries.

Source: AFP