US approves UN General Assembly visa for Iran's Pezeshkian amid war: What is Washington's duty to the UN?

The United States on Thursday (local time) approved visas for Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other members of Tehran’s core delegation to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York next week, despite the ongoing military conflict, the Associated Press reported.

The US State Department said the decision was in line with Washington’s obligations as host country of the United Nations. “In accordance with our host country’s commitments, a core delegation of the Iranian regime will be able to attend the high-level week of the UN General Assembly,” a State Department spokesman told the AP.

However, the Iranian delegation will be significantly smaller than in previous years and will face tighter travel restrictions, the State Department added.

In this context, Pezeshkian’s planned appearance at the UN General Assembly presents an unusual diplomatic picture.

The US and Iran are at war, but Iran’s leadership will be allowed to enter the United States to attend the world’s largest annual diplomatic gathering.

Why did the US approve the visas of the Iranian delegation?

The main reason is that the US is the host country of the United Nations.

The headquarters of the United Nations is located in New York, to which the United States has obligations under the 1947 United Nations-United States Headquarters Agreement.

The agreement establishes measures to ensure that representatives of UN member states and other authorized participants can join and participate in UN proceedings.

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Section 11 of the agreement states that U.S. federal, state, and local authorities shall not obstruct the transit of representatives of member states and other specified categories of persons to or from the United Nations headquarters precinct.

The agreement also contains specific provisions regarding visas. Section 11(3) provides that visas, if required for persons covered by this provision, are to be granted “free of charge and as quickly as possible”.

However, the US has historically argued that its obligations under the headquarters agreement do not completely eliminate its ability to protect national security or regulate access to parts of the country outside the UN headquarters area.

It only sets out the obligations associated with access to UN headquarters and participation in UN business.

This is also why restrictions on the movement of the Iranian delegation can coexist with the decision to grant visas.

What if the US denies a visa to the Palestinian president?

Earlier this week, the United States denied visas to Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) officials, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, before the UN General Assembly, according to a statement from the State Department on Wednesday.

The ministry said the restrictions were related to what it described as the failure of the Palestinian leadership to implement reforms and actions that undermine prospects for peace.