Letter from Five American Senators to Biden: Do Not Grant Visa to Khamenei's Newly Appointed President

Five American senators wrote a letter to Joe Biden, the President of the United States, urging him not to grant a visa to Massoud Pezeshkian, the newly appointed president of the fourteenth government of the Islamic Republic, for attending the United Nations General Assembly. In the letter, published on Thursday, Biden is asked not to grant visas to 'evil dictators from Iran, Cuba, and Venezuela.' This letter was initiated by Senator Rick Scott and signed by Senators Tom Cotton, Joni Ernst, Marco Rubio, and Markwayne Mullin. The letter emphasizes that the United States must prevent the UN General Assembly from becoming a platform where 'the most sinister leaders on earth gain legitimacy and promote their dangerous views that threaten the national security of the United States and our allies.' The five American senators refer to Massoud Pezeshkian as a president 'appointed' by Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic. They explain that while the Islamic Republic has launched a 'proxy war' against Israel 'and seeks to erase Israel from the face of the earth,' Pezeshkian, the newly appointed president of Iran, has openly committed to continuing the policies of his predecessor, known as the 'Butcher of Tehran,' in targeting Israel and the United States. The title 'Butcher of Tehran' is used in Western circles for Ebrahim Raisi, the former president of the Islamic Republic, who played a direct role in the mass execution of political prisoners in 1988 and the bloody suppression of protesters following the death of Mahsa Amini. Raisi was killed in a plane crash earlier this year. The senators' letter continues by stating that the Islamic Republic is 'directly responsible for the horrific attack on October 7 [by Hamas and Islamic Jihad] against Israel and the recent missile attacks that resulted in the deaths of dozens of innocent Israelis, including children on a soccer field in the Golan Heights.' Iran-backed militants also recently attacked American forces stationed at Al Asad Airbase in Iraq, resulting in five Americans being seriously injured. In total, Iran-backed militants in the Middle East have killed three American servicemen and wounded nearly 200 since October 7. The senators argue that while the UN General Assembly is a venue for diplomatic negotiations and discussions, the United States has historically taken principled positions against welcoming foreign leaders who threaten American values and interests, citing examples such as President Ronald Reagan denying a visa to Yasser Arafat in 1988 due to his support for state-sponsored terrorism, and President Donald Trump similarly denying a visa to Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian Foreign Minister. The five U.S. senators conclude their letter by urging Joe Biden not to grant visas to 'dictators' Massoud Pezeshkian, Miguel Díaz-Canel, Nicolás Maduro, 'and other leaders whose presence at the UN General Assembly undermines our national security.' The U.S. State Department stated to Voice of America that the Iranian government remains an 'enemy' and a 'supporter of terrorism.' Positive vote in the parliament; Pezeshkian's proposed ministers will start working with Khamenei's approval and agreement from intelligence and security organizations. Starmer's call with Pezeshkian; British Prime Minister's warning about a potential attack by the Islamic Republic on Israel. The Biden administration restricted the movement of the Iranian Foreign Minister in New York. A letter from the 'United Against a Nuclear Iran' organization to the U.S. Secretary of State: Do not grant a visa to Amir-Abdollahian.