US Grants Visas to Iran’s UN General Assembly Delegation Led by Masoud Pezeshkian and Abbas Araghchi

The U.S. approved visas for Iran’s core UN delegation, including Masoud Pezeshkian and Abbas Araghchi, but imposed travel and purchase restrictions. The...

Key Takeaways
  • The United States approved visas for Iran’s core UN delegation ahead of next week’s General Assembly.
  • President Masoud Pezeshkian and Abbas Araghchi may travel, but the delegation faces travel and luxury-goods restrictions.
  • The approvals were confirmed on September seventeenth and eighteenth, twenty twenty-six under the nineteen forty-seven UN agreement.

The United States approved visas for Iran’s core delegation to the UN General Assembly in New York next week, clearing President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to travel. The move came with restrictions attached.

The department laid out the terms in a statement.

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US Grants Visas to Iran’s UN General Assembly Delegation Led by Masoud Pezeshkian and Abbas Araghchi
US Grants Visas to Iran’s UN General Assembly Delegation Led by Masoud Pezeshkian and Abbas Araghchi

“Consistent with our host country obligations, the core delegation from the Iranian regime will be able to attend UN General Assembly High Level Week,” a State Department spokesperson said. “The delegation will be under travel restrictions and will face prohibitions on the purchase of luxury and other goods per our policy. The delegation is smaller than last year.”

The statement was terse.

The approvals landed on September 17, 2026, and were confirmed again on September 18, 2026. The clock was already running.

Officials described the travelers as a core delegation, plus essential staff. Not a full mission.

Pezeshkian is slated to address the assembly on Wednesday.

Those limits rest on the 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement. The department can still deny visas for security, terrorism and foreign policy grounds.

Movement stays boxed in around the mission

Earlier restrictions kept diplomats close to John F. Kennedy International Airport, Iran’s UN mission and the ambassador’s residence. The airport stayed off limits. Costco was on the list. Formal ties never followed.

The visit lands while the United States and Iran remain at war. Intermittent talks continue.

Retailers hear a fresh warning

Retailers heard the warning. Tommy Pigott later warned New York retailers to “be on guard.”

People also ask

Answers from VisaVerge guides
Can Iranian diplomats and UN officials still travel to the UNGA in New York after June 9, 2025?

Yes, but their applications face rigorous interagency security reviews and are not automatic. They must apply for appropriate visa types like A-1 or G-1 through G-4 or C-2/C-3, which are formally exempt from the suspension.

Read: US Tightens Visa Review as Iran UNGA Delegation Faces Security-Review Suspension
Why did Iran change its visa policy for U.S. citizens in May 2025?

Iran reduced the validity period of U.S. tourist and entry visas from 90 days to 45 days, likely as a response to diplomatic tensions or U.S. visa policies.

Read: Iran Slashes Visa Policy Time for U.S. Applicants
Which officials were allowed to travel to New York despite the visa revocation?

Exceptions were made for Palestinian diplomats stationed at their permanent mission to the UN in New York.

Read: U.S. Revokes Abbas, 80 Palestinian Officials’ Visas Ahead of UNGA 2025
What was the legal basis for allowing these 17 Iranian visa holders to enter the U.S.?

These 17 individuals had valid visas on the effective date of the newer proclamation, which continued and supplemented the previous one.

Read: Trump Administration Allows 17 Iranian Visa Holders in Thein V. Trump Moot Move
What is the U.S. visa policy that affects Iran's participation in the 2026 World Cup draw?

A Presidential Proclamation effective June 9, 2025, suspended most visitor, work, and family visas for nationals of 19 countries, including Iran.

Read: Iran to Boycott 2026 World Cup Draw in US Over Visa Dispute
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Nadia Hassan

Nadia Hassan covers immigration policy and legislation for VisaVerge.com, decoding the bills, executive actions, agency rule changes, and fee structures that reshape the system. With a sharp eye for how Washington's decisions reach ordinary applicants, she translates dense policy into practical context. Nadia's analysis gives readers the "what it means for you" behind every major immigration announcement.