The Trump administration has approved visas for Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to attend next week’s high-level UN General Assembly meeting in New York, despite the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran.
The US State Department said on Thursday (Sept 17) that visas had been approved for Iran’s “core delegation” and essential staff to participate in the UN meetings. US officials confirmed that Pezeshkian and Araghchi are among those granted visas.
The decision comes as the more than six-month-long US-Iran conflict remains deadlocked, with no apparent breakthrough towards reopening the Strait of Hormuz or resuming talks over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Tensions in the region have also continued to affect shipping and energy markets. Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen have stepped up attacks on Saudi infrastructure and shipping in the Red Sea, another major maritime route.
The US continues to designate Iran as the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism and has imposed extensive sanctions on Tehran. Washington has also launched a recent campaign aimed at cutting off what it describes as Iran’s “critical financial lifelines”.
Although the US hosts the UN headquarters, its ability to prevent foreign leaders from attending the General Assembly is limited. However, Washington has previously denied visas to, or discouraged applications from, leaders involved in active conflicts with the US.
Iranian officials also faced strict restrictions during last year’s UN General Assembly. Their movements were limited to designated areas around the Iranian mission in New York, while they were barred from shopping at wholesale membership stores such as Costco and Sam’s Club.
The latest visa decision came a day after Washington denied visas to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation. The State Department said the Iranian delegation would face travel restrictions and bans on purchasing luxury and other goods, adding that it would be smaller than last year’s delegation.
The department accused the Palestinian Authority of trying to “internationalise” the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza through cases at the International Court of Justice and International Criminal Court, as well as its continued payment of stipends to prisoners jailed in Israel for attacks on Israelis.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the visa denial, arguing that restrictions on its officials would not advance peace or combat violence. It said Israel’s actions posed the “real threat” to the two-state solution and maintained that it remained committed to a political settlement.
While the US does not recognise the Palestinian Authority as the government of a full UN member state, the UN General Assembly and various UN agencies and organisations do recognise its status.
