The United States has issued visas to a core group of Iranian officials, enabling them to travel to New York for the UN General Assembly’s High Level Week. The delegation, which includes President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, will be subject to specific travel restrictions and prohibitions on the acquisition of certain American goods.

A State Department spokesperson confirmed the decision, noting that the delegation size is smaller than in previous years. The restrictions align with established US policy, which limits the ability of Iranian officials to purchase luxury items such as jewelry, vehicles, or alcohol. State Department official Tommy Pigott emphasized that the US intends to prevent the delegation from engaging in significant retail activity, citing the economic hardships currently faced by the Iranian population.

Advertisement

The UN General Assembly's General Debate is scheduled to commence on Tuesday, with addresses expected from various world leaders. Iranian officials are slated to speak on Wednesday. This diplomatic access comes as the conflict between the US and Iran, which began in February, continues to impact regional stability and global energy markets.

Separately, the US has denied visa requests for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation for the second consecutive year, citing a lack of recognition regarding the legitimacy of the Palestinian representation.

Source: BBC News