US Denies Visas to Iranian President's Delegation for UN

The United States has denied visas to members of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s delegation, including his communications team, ahead of their trip to the United Nations General Assembly. This decision, described by Iranian state media as an unprecedented hostile move by the US government under President Donald Trump, comes as Pezeshkian prepares to be the highest-ranking Iranian official to enter the US since the onset of the Middle East war in February.

The Iranian news agency IRNA reported that Pezeshkian is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Wednesday. While the US has authorized the Iranian delegation's travel, it will impose restrictions similar to those from the previous year, including a ban on purchasing luxury goods.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, part of the delegation, departed Iran on Sunday for a stopover in Qatar. Iran has communicated conditions for reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz oil and gas shipping route to the US through Qatar, which the US is countering with a blockade of Iranian ports.