US grants visas to Iranian leaders Pezeshkian and Araghchi for UN Assembly

The United States has approved visas for a small Iranian delegation to attend the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York next week. The group will include President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and a handful of senior staff. The decision comes despite the war in Yemen, which has kept the Strait of Hormuz closed and pushed global oil prices higher.

Washington’s move follows a long‑running policy of limiting Iranian travel to the UN. The State Department said the delegation will be scaled down and will face tighter travel curbs and restrictions on luxury imports. The approval is part of the US’s broader strategy to keep the UN a venue for dialogue while maintaining pressure on Tehran over its military actions and nuclear program.

At the same time, the US has barred Palestinian leaders from attending the assembly for the second straight year. The Trump administration denied visas to President Mahmoud Abbas and dozens of Palestinian Authority officials, citing a failure to reform and a continued threat to peace. The Palestinian delegation will instead send diplomats already accredited to the UN. The ban has drawn criticism from Palestinian officials, who say it weakens the Palestinian case for a political solution and fuels settlement and annexation efforts.

The UN General Assembly will convene amid multiple crises. In addition to the Yemen war, the meeting will cover Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, Middle East volatility, and global economic turmoil. The presence of a limited Iranian delegation signals that Washington is willing to allow diplomatic engagement even as it keeps sanctions and travel restrictions in place. The assembly will be a platform for leaders to discuss these challenges, but the tight limits on Iranian officials may constrain the depth of any talks that emerge.