The United States has denied visas to several members of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s delegation, including officials from his communications team, ahead of his scheduled trip to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. Iranian state media reported the decision on Monday, noting that Pezeshkian is expected to become the highest-ranking Iranian official to visit the United States since the Middle East conflict began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February.
Iran’s state news agency, IRNA, characterized the visa denials as an "unprecedented hostile move" by the administration of US President Donald Trump. The agency reported that the restrictions target high-level members of the delegation, specifically those involved in the president’s communications efforts. The Mehr news agency corroborated the reports, citing a spokesperson for the Iranian presidency who confirmed that Pezeshkian is slated to address the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.
Despite the visa denials, the United States has authorized the broader Iranian delegation to travel for the General Assembly. The US State Department indicated that it plans to impose restrictions similar to those introduced during last year’s visit. According to the State Department, members of the Iranian delegation will be prohibited from purchasing luxury goods and certain other items while in the country.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is part of the delegation, departed Iran on Sunday evening and traveled to Qatar for a stopover. The diplomatic friction occurs amid heightened tensions over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil and gas shipments.
Iran has stated that it communicated conditions to the United States through Qatar, which is acting as a mediator, for the reopening of the strategic waterway that Tehran has restricted since the conflict began. In response, the US has imposed a counterblockade on Iranian ports, a move that has further escalated tensions between the two nations.
<small>Source: Daily Post Nigeria — read the original story there.</small>
