US prepares to issue visas for Iranian leaders to attend UNGA next week
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The US government is preparing to approve visas for President Masoud Pezeshkian, Iran's leader, and other senior officials to allow them to attend the United Nations General Assembly, or UNGA, in New York next week, even as the two countries remain in a state of war. The US State Department said on Thursday, September 17, that the main delegation from Iran's government would be permitted to attend the meeting in line with the United States' obligations as host country of the United Nations. Meanwhile, a source told Reuters that senior officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Abbas Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, would be granted visas. A US State Department spokesperson said the delegation would be subject to travel restrictions and would face bans on purchasing luxury goods and other items under US policy, and that this year's delegation is smaller than last year's. The United States has held periodic talks with Iranian leaders aimed at ending the war that began after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran on February 28, to which Iran responded by attacking Israel and Arab Gulf countries hosting US military bases.