Why is Masoud Pezeshkian’s U.N. trip to New York drawing attention?

He is expected to be the highest-ranking Iranian official to enter the United States since the war began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February. Iranian state media said his delegation is still authorized to travel, even after visa refusals for some members.

What restrictions did the United States place on Iran’s U.N. delegation?

The U.S. refused visas for some members of Pezeshkian’s high-level delegation, including communications staff. It also kept limits on the delegation’s activities, including a ban on purchasing luxury goods or similar items.

What did Iran say about the Strait of Hormuz while sending its delegation to the United States?

Iran said it had conveyed conditions for reopening the strategic shipping route through Qatar, which it is using as a mediator. The article also says the United States is imposing a counterblockade of Iranian ports.

US refuses visas for Iran UN delegation members: state media

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Summary

The United States has refused visas for members of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s delegation, including his communications team, for this week’s U.N. General Assembly trip in New York, Iranian state media reported Monday. Pezeshkian is expected to be the highest-ranking Iranian official to enter the United States since the war began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February. Iran said the president will address the General Assembly on Wednesday. The U.S. has also kept travel restrictions on the delegation, including limits on luxury-goods purchases.

Key Facts

IRNA said the visa denial was an unprecedented hostile move by the U.S. government and attributed the decision to Donald Trump.
The Mehr news agency said the report came from a spokesperson for the Iranian presidency and that Pezeshkian will speak at the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday.
The State Department said on Thursday that Iran’s delegation is authorized to travel for the U.N. General Assembly but remains subject to restrictions, including limits on buying luxury goods or other items.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi left Iran on Sunday evening for a stopover in Qatar as part of the delegation trip.
Iran said it has conveyed conditions for reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz through Qatar, which it is using as a mediator.

By AFP

Published Sep 21, 2026 8:52 pm KST
Updated Sep 21, 2026 9:42 pm KST

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends a military march in Tehran, Sept. 18. Reuters-Yonhap

TEHRAN — The United States has refused to issue visas for members of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's delegation, including his communications team, for this week's trip to the U.N. General Assembly, Iranian state media reported Monday.

Pezeshkian will be the highest-ranking Iranian official to enter the United States since the war began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran in February.

"In an unprecedented hostile move by the U.S. government, (U.S. President Donald) Trump has denied U.S. visas to certain members of the president's high-level delegation, including members of his communications team," state news agency IRNA reported.

The Mehr news agency also carried the story, citing a spokesperson for the Iranian presidency, and added that Pezeshkian will address the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday.

The U.S. has authorized the Iranian delegation to travel for the U.N. General Assembly but will, like last year, put restrictions in place.

Iran's delegation will not, for instance, be allowed to purchase luxury goods or other items, the State Department said on Thursday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, part of the delegation to the U.N., left Iran on Sunday evening for a stopover in Qatar.

Iran says it has conveyed to the U.S., via Qatar as mediator, conditions for reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz oil and gas shipping route, which it has choked off since the war began.

The United States, in turn, is imposing a counterblockade of Iranian ports.

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