A core delegation of Iranian regime officials will be allowed to enter the US to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) summit in New York this month, a US State Department spokesperson said on Thursday.
According to the spokesperson, the Iranian officials will face travel restrictions and will be barred from purchasing luxury goods during their visit to the US.
This year’s delegation is expected to be smaller than last year’s delegation, which was headed by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and faced similar shopping and travel restrictions.
US bars Palestinian officials from attending UNGA summit
On Wednesday, the US announced that it would extend sanctions that bar Palestinian Authority officials and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) members, including PA President Mahmoud Abbas, from obtaining visas necessary to attend the UNGA’s annual summit.
The State Department stated that the visa ban is intended to serve as a consequence for the PA and PLO’s “ongoing activities that undermine the prospects for peace” and glorification of terrorism.
Abbas was also denied a visa ahead of last year’s meeting, where he addressed the UN through video rather than making an in-person speech.
Idan Kweller contributed to this report.