US grants visas to Iran's Pezeshkian, Araghchi for UN General Assembly

The US has granted visas to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week, despite the ongoing conflict between Washington and Tehran.

A US State Department spokesperson said a core Iranian delegation would be allowed to attend the UNGA’s high-level week in keeping with Washington’s obligations as the host country.

“Consistent with our host country obligations, the core delegation from the Iranian regime will

be able to attend UN General Assembly High Level Week,” the spokesperson said.

The delegation will include Pezeshkian, Araghchi and essential staff, Reuters reported. The Iranian delegation will be smaller than in previous years and subject to travel restrictions and limits on the purchase of luxury and other restricted goods.

Further, Pezeshkian is scheduled to address the 81st UN General Assembly on Wednesday and will be closely watched as the meeting comes as the US-Iran war remains unsolved nearly seven months since it broke out on February 28.

The decision follows the 1947 UN headquarters agreement, under which the US, as host country, is generally required to facilitate access to the United Nations for foreign diplomats, although Washington says visas can be denied on security, terrorism and foreign policy grounds.