The United States will permit senior Iranian officials to participate in the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York, despite ongoing tensions between Washington and Tehran. This decision aligns with the U.S.’s responsibilities as the host nation of the UN.
The U.S. State Department confirmed that a core Iranian delegation, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, will be granted visas for the event. However, these officials will be subject to existing U.S. travel restrictions, limiting their movements to specific locations such as the UN headquarters, Iran’s UN mission, and the ambassador’s residence.
This move comes amid intermittent diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict that began on February 28 following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran. In response, Tehran launched attacks against Israel and Gulf states hosting U.S. military facilities. The decision to allow Iranian officials to attend the assembly may signal a willingness to engage in further dialogue.
Under the 1947 UN headquarters agreement, the U.S. generally allows access to foreign diplomats, though it reserves the right to deny visas on grounds of security, terrorism, or foreign policy. In a separate decision, the U.S. has opted to deny entry to Palestinian officials, including President Mahmoud Abbas, for this year’s General Assembly.
