US allows Iranian delegation to attend UN assembly

The US State Department has announced that an Iranian delegation will be allowed to attend the UN General Assembly in New York next week, despite a prolonged war. The delegation, headed by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, will be smaller than last year's attendance and will face certain restrictions. These include travel limitations and prohibitions on purchasing luxury goods and other specific items.

The move aligns with the US's obligation as a host country. However, the delegation will not be as large as previous years. The ongoing conflict between the US and Iran, which escalated in late February, has intensified, with Iran retaliating by blocking the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for energy transportation, leading to a spike in global oil prices.

Recent weeks have seen renewed clashes between the two nations, while shipping remains prohibited in the Strait of Hormuz and in the Bab al-Mandab Strait off Yemen, where Houthi rebels have taken control. This decision by the US contrasts with its denial of a visa to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for the UN General Assembly, marking the second consecutive year the US has done so.

The state department cited Abbas's failure to reform and his organization's actions that undermine peace prospects as reasons for the denial.