UN: US refusal to grant visa to Iran's UN ambassador 'a unique case'

The US’ decision to refuse granting visa to Iran’s new envoy to the United Nations is a “unique case” in the history of the international organisation, a UN spokesman said yesterday.

US President Barack Obama signed legislation last week banning Iranian Ambassador Hamid Aboutalebi from entering the US to assume the post of Iran’s permanent UN representative because of his involvement in the US embassy hostage crisis in Tehran in 1979.

UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said: “As far as we know this is a unique case involving a permanent representative. This is an unprecedented incident in the history of the organisation.”

Dujarric pointed out that “member states are free to choose their own permanent representative.”

Iran warned that it will not replace Aboutalebi and described the US decision as a dangerous precedent that could harm international diplomacy. Tehran asked the UN Committee on Relations with the Host Country to discuss the matter.

Dujarric said the Committee was scheduled to discuss the issue yesterday evening with delegates and at least a member of the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs.