US Refuses Visas for Members of Iranian President’s UNGA Delegation

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 planned trip to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), Iranian state media reported on Monday.

The Iranian reports described the decision as a move by the administration of US President Donald Trump, coming as Pezeshkian prepares to attend the UN gathering in New York.

“In an unprecedented hostile move by the US government, (US President Donald) Trump has denied US visas to certain members of the president’s high-level delegation, including members of his communications team,” state news agency IRNA reported.

The Mehr news agency also reported the visa denials, citing a spokesperson for the Iranian presidency. It said Pezeshkian was scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.

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.

Although Washington has authorised the Iranian delegation to travel to the UN General Assembly, it is expected to impose restrictions similar to those applied during last year’s gathering.

The US State Department said on Thursday that members of the Iranian delegation would, among other restrictions, be prohibited from purchasing luxury goods and certain other items.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is part of the delegation, left Iran on Sunday evening and travelled to Qatar for a stopover ahead of the UNGA visit.

Meanwhile, Iran says it has conveyed conditions to the United States for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic route for global oil and gas shipments that Tehran has blocked since the war began. The conditions were reportedly transmitted through Qatar, which is acting as a mediator.

The United States, in turn, is enforcing a counterblockade of Iranian ports, further complicating efforts to ease tensions between the two countries.

The visa denials were reported by Iranian state media. The reports did not specify how many delegation members were affected.