US says no to visa for Irans UN envoy The United States said it would not grant a visa to Irans proposed UN ambassador, citing the envoys links to the 1979-1981 hostage crisis, in a rare step that raises questions about how much influence the White House can wield over the world body. President Barack Obama had come under strong pressure not to allow Hamid Abutalebi into the country to take up his position in New York, raising concerns that the dispute would disrupt delicate negotiations between Tehran, Washington and other world powers over Irans nuclear programme. White House spokesman Jay Carney said the United Nations and Iran had been told that we will not issue a visa to Mr Abutalebi. Neither the White House nor the US State Department provided further explanation. US law allows the government to bar UN diplomats who are considered national security threats, but Obamas potentially precedent-setting step could open the United States to criticism that it is using its position as host nation to improperly exert political influence. The US government objects to Abutalebi because of his suspected participation in a Muslim student group that seized the embassy in November 1979 and held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days. The veteran diplomat has acknowledged that he acted as an interpreter for the group which held the hostages. Obamas decision came days after negotiators from Iran, the US and five other world powers met in Vienna for another round of nuclear talks. A spokesman for Irans mission to the UN said the White House decision was unfortunate and may violate international law. It is a regrettable decision by the US administration which is in contravention of international law, the obligation of the host country and the inherent right of sovereign member states to designate their representatives to the United Nations, spokesman Hamid Babaei said in a statement. Nuclear talks But an Iranian official said he did not expect the dispute to affect the nuclear negotiations. Any official response would be up to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, but the US decision will have no impact on our talks with the P5+1, the official told Reuters news agency.
Posted on: Sat, 12 Apr 2014 04:50:35 +0000
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