The United States has denied visas to some members of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s delegation ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Iranian state media reported on Monday.
According to Iran’s state news agency, IRNA, the affected officials include members of Pezeshkian’s communications team.
Pezeshkian is expected to address the UN General Assembly on Wednesday and would be the highest-ranking Iranian official to visit the United States since the conflict in the Middle East began with US and Israeli strikes on Iran in February.
IRNA described the visa denials as an “unprecedented hostile move” by the administration of US President Donald Trump. Iran’s Mehr news agency also reported the development, citing a spokesperson for the Iranian presidency.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei criticised the decision, accusing the US administration of restricting access to information.
The US State Department said last Thursday that it had authorised an Iranian delegation to travel to the United States for the UN General Assembly, but that restrictions would apply, similar to those imposed on the delegation last year.
Among the restrictions, members of the Iranian delegation will be prohibited from purchasing luxury goods and certain other items while in the United States.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is part of the delegation, left Iran on Sunday evening and travelled to Qatar for a stopover.
Iran has also said it conveyed conditions to the United States through Qatar, which is mediating between the two sides, regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a major route for global oil and gas shipments.
The United States has responded by imposing a counterblockade on Iranian ports.
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