The United States has denied visas to some members of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s delegation, including members of his communications team, ahead of his visit to the United Nations General Assembly, Iranian state media reported Monday.
Pezeshkian is expected to be the highest-ranking Iranian official to visit the United States since the Middle East war began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February.
Iran’s state news agency IRNA described the visa denials as an “unprecedented hostile move” by the US administration, saying members of the president’s high-level delegation were affected.
Mehr news agency also reported the development, citing a spokesperson for the Iranian presidency. It said Pezeshkian is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.
The United States has authorised the Iranian delegation to travel to New York for the General Assembly but plans to impose restrictions similar to those placed on the delegation last year.
According to the US State Department, Iranian delegates will not be permitted to purchase luxury goods or certain other items while in the country.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is part of the delegation, left Iran on Sunday evening for a stopover in Qatar.
Iran has said it conveyed conditions to the United States through Qatar, which is acting as a mediator, for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil and gas shipments that Tehran has restricted since the war began.
