Washington: The United States has denied a visa to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif that would have allowed him to attend a United Nations Security Council meeting in New York on Thursday.
The assertion, by a US official, speaking anonymously, comes as tensions escalate between the countries after the US killed Iran’s most prominent military commander, Qassem Soleimani, in Baghdad on Friday.
No visa: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.Credit:AP
Under the 1947 UN “headquarters agreement”, the United States is required to allow access to the UN for foreign diplomats but Washington says it can deny visas for “security, terrorism and foreign policy” reasons.
The US State Department declined immediate comment on Monday (Tuesday Australian time).