The Trump administration has approved visas for top Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, to attend
next week’s United Nations General Assembly high-level meeting in New York, despite the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran. The State Department said Thursday that it had approved visas for Iran’s “core delegation” and essential staffers to participate in the U.N. meetings. U.S. officials confirmed that Pezeshkian and Araghchi are part of the delegation, speaking on condition of anonymity because of visa privacy laws. “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 State Department said. The department added that the Iranian delegation would face travel restrictions and prohibitions on purchasing luxury and other goods. It also said the delegation is smaller than last year.
Visas Approved Amid Ongoing US-Iran Conflict
The decision comes as the more than six-month-long conflict between Iran and the United States remains stalemated, with no indication that agreements to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or resume talks on Iran’s nuclear program are close.
The development also comes as Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have stepped up attacks on Saudi infrastructure and shipping in the Red Sea, contributing to disruptions along another major maritime route.
Iran remains under significant U.S. sanctions and has been described by the US government as the world's leading state sponsor of terrorism. Washington has also launched a new campaign in recent weeks aimed at severing what it calls Iran’s “critical financial lifelines.”
As the host country of the United Nations headquarters, the United States is generally limited in its ability to prevent foreign leaders from attending the General Assembly. However, the US has previously denied visas to, or discouraged applications from, leaders involved in active conflicts with the country.
The visa decision came a day after the State Department denied visas to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation for the General Assembly.
