US Grants Visas to Iranian Officials for UN Assembly With Restrictions

The U.S. Department of State announced Thursday it will grant entry visas to the United States for several senior Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, to attend the upcoming UN General Assembly in New York. Despite the ongoing war, the U.S. will permit their participation but impose movement restrictions during their stay.

"In accordance with our host country obligations, a senior delegation from the Iranian regime will be able to attend the UN General Assembly's week of deliberations, but will be subject to movement restrictions," a U.S. statement read. The statement also noted that the Iranian delegation would be smaller than last year's and would be prohibited from purchasing luxury and other goods, in line with U.S. policy.

This decision comes as the U.S. denied entry visas to Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation for the second consecutive year, preventing their physical attendance at the UN General Assembly. Consequently, the 193-member assembly is expected to vote on allowing Abbas to deliver a recorded speech next week, a measure also taken last year when he was denied a visa.

The U.S. State Department cited the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization's international activities, including appeals to the International Criminal Court and the International Court of Justice, and their pursuit of unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, as reasons for the visa restrictions. Washington also accused these Palestinian bodies of supporting terrorism.