Amir leads Qatar’s delegation at UN General Assembly, to address opening session on Tuesday

TEHRAN, September 21 — In a move described as "unprecedented hostility" by Iranian state media, the United States has denied visas to several members of President Masoud Pezeshkian's delegation ahead of their scheduled visit to the UN General Assembly. The sanctions come as the highest-ranking Iranian official to enter the United States since the outbreak of the Middle East conflict, following US-Israeli strikes against Iran in February.

According to state news agency IRNA and the Mehr news agency, the US authorities have specifically targeted members of Pezeshkian's communications team with the visa denials. Despite the restrictions, the Iranian delegation is permitted to travel to the UN General Assembly, though they will be prohibited from purchasing luxury goods or other expensive items, as per a restriction announced by the US State Department on Thursday.

The delegation, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, departed Iran on Sunday evening, with Iran claiming to have conveyed its conditions for reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz to the US through Qatar, the mediator. In response, the United States has imposed its own counterblockade on Iranian ports.