United States permits visas for Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to travel to the United Nations; Pompeo: If you’re connected to a foreign terrorist organization, I don’t know.
The United States has granted permission for Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif to travel to the United Nations in New York, despite the growing Iranian aggression throughout the Middle East and their hostility toward America. Additionally, and perhaps rightfully so, Saudi Arabia is not pleased with this decision, given the recent devastating attacks on their kingdom that are more than likely to have come from Iran.
Foreign Minister Javad Zarif claimed via Twitter that US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tried to hinder the process, stating, “@SecPompeo tries to dodge US obligation to issue visas for UN delegates by resorting to self-arrogated designation.”
Pompeo responded to these reports, stating, “We don’t talk about granting or absence of granting of visas…If you’re connected to a foreign terrorist organization, I don’t know…Seems to me it would be a reason to think about whether they have to be permitted to attend a meeting which is about peace.”
Due to the nature of the United Nations being located in New York, the United States is typically required to grant representatives a visa, regardless of where they’re from.
