The United States has approved the attendance of senior Iranian officials at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York, despite ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran. This decision aligns with the U.S.’s obligations as the host country of the U.N. headquarters.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi are expected to receive visas to participate in the assembly. However, the Iranian delegation’s movements will be restricted to specific locations, including the U.N. headquarters, Iran’s U.N. mission, and the residence of its ambassador, in line with past U.S. travel restrictions.
The decision comes amid intermittent diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran to resolve the conflict that escalated in late February. The conflict began following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, which prompted retaliatory actions from Tehran against Israel and Gulf states that host U.S. military bases.
Under the 1947 agreement that governs the U.N. headquarters, the United States is generally required to allow foreign diplomats access to the United Nations. However, Washington maintains the right to deny visas on grounds of security, terrorism, or foreign policy concerns.
In contrast, the U.S. has decided to deny entry to Palestinian officials, including President Mahmoud Abbas, for this year’s General Assembly, marking a notable difference in its approach to international diplomatic engagement at the U.N. event.