The United States has granted visas to Iranian officials who are due to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week, according to the US State Department and the BBC. The decision comes as the conflict between the two countries approaches its seventh month.
The BBC understands that the core delegation will include Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. A State Department spokesman said the delegation would be permitted to attend the General Assembly’s high-level week in line with US obligations as the UN host country.
The spokesman said the Iranian delegation would be subject to travel restrictions and barred from purchasing luxury and other goods under US policy. He also said the delegation would be smaller than last year’s group.
Restrictions previously applied to Iranian diplomats included bans on shopping at wholesale stores such as Costco and requirements to obtain US permission before buying some luxury goods, including jewellery, alcohol and cars.
The UN General Assembly’s 81st session is underway, with the main General Debate scheduled to begin on Tuesday. The supplied BBC report says speeches are expected from US President Donald Trump, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham and French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday, followed by addresses from the leaders of Ukraine, Syria and Iran on Wednesday.
The decision was reported as pressure increased on the White House to seek an end to the conflict. The report says the war began on 28 February, when the US and Israel launched joint attacks on Iran. Since then, Iran has attacked US bases, allied Gulf states and Israel, while the fighting has pushed up global energy prices and spread into neighbouring countries.
The BBC also reports that the US denied visas to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian delegation for a second consecutive year. The White House said it did not recognise the legitimacy of the Palestinian delegation.