Amir-Abdollahian Claims He Could Not Attend UN Meeting Due to Delay in US Visa

The Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran claimed that he could not attend the important UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday, December 8, regarding the conflicts in Gaza due to what he called a 'delay in the issuance of the US visa.' Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, speaking to reporters after a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, added that the US issued visas for him and all his companions at 1 AM Tehran time. He further stated that the delay in visa issuance meant that the Islamic Republic's delegation would not be able to attend the meeting scheduled for that day. Despite his absence, Amir-Abdollahian said that the Islamic Republic would make 'every effort' to extend the humanitarian ceasefire agreement in Gaza. The American publication 'Barron's' reported, citing a source close to the militant group, that Hamas is willing to extend the ceasefire for another four days. According to the agreement between this group and Israel, the ceasefire in Gaza had already been extended once and is set to end on Wednesday night. The permission for foreign diplomats to enter the United Nations headquarters in New York is under the jurisdiction of the United States. Amir-Abdollahian had previously traveled to New York to attend a UN Security Council meeting on the Israel-Hamas war, which drew significant criticism regarding his presence in the US. Republican Senator Joni Ernst reacted to this trip by stating, 'At a time when Iran-backed terrorists are attacking American forces and taking American citizens hostage, the Biden administration is granting a visa to a senior Iranian official. This appeasement must end.' Mark Wallace, CEO of the United Against Nuclear Iran organization, also criticized Amir-Abdollahian's presence in New York, stating, 'He, whose hands are stained with American blood, should not have been allowed to enter the US.' Previously, in December 2019, the visa request of Mohammad Javad Zarif, the then Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic, to attend the UN headquarters had been denied. He had been sanctioned by the United States in August of that year for 'representing the direct and indirect leadership of the Islamic Republic.' The sudden trip of the Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic to New York has been accompanied by criticisms.