White House: U.S. Will Not Issue Visa to Iran’s Pick for U.N. Envoy
Demonstrating that there can be unity.
The Obama administration will not issue a diplomatic visa to Iran’s new ambassador to the United Nations, the White House said Friday, complicating efforts to improve relations between the two countries.
The administration opposes the selection of veteran diplomat Hamid Aboutalebi because of his ties to the student group that took over the U.S. Embassy in Tehran and held 52 American hostages in 1979.
Earlier this week, the White House said Aboutalebi’s appointment was “not viable.”
In a rare bipartisan vote Thursday, the House approved a measure designed to bar Aboutalebi’s entry to the country. The bill already had passed the Senate.
More: White House: U.S. Will Not Issue Visa to Iran’s Pick for U.N. Envoy