UANI Calls on U.S. to Deny Entry Visas to Iran’s Delegation for UNGA

(New York, NY) – On Wednesday, United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) CEO Ambassador Mark D. Wallace called on U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to deny visas to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and his delegation ahead of their anticipated visit to New York for the opening of the U.N. General Assembly (UNGA) next week. The delegation could include Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) which is a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization, and Vice President for Strategic Affairs Javad Zarif, who is sanctioned.

Pezeshkian himself is a self-proclaimed longtime member of the IRGC’s Basij, an organization under U.S. sanctions for terrorism and human rights abuses. It is known for enforcing Iran’s repressive policies, including the mandatory hijab. His delegation arrives as Iran’s regime continues to fund and support terrorist groups like Hamas and Hezbollah, and just days after the second anniversary of the murder of Mahsa Amini, a young woman killed by the “Morality Police.” 

Ambassador Wallace said:

"Iran’s leadership continues to violate international law, evade sanctions, and directly threaten U.S. interests. President Pezeshkian and his senior officials should not be given the platform of the U.N. General Assembly to spread anti-American and anti-Israel propaganda or to legitimize their criminal behavior. Iran’s involvement in the October 7 Hamas massacre in Israel, its supply of weapons to Russia for use against Ukraine, and its assassination plots against U.S. officials demonstrate the regime's open hostility toward the U.S. and its allies. The United States should not welcome them to New York."

In his letter, Ambassador Wallace also highlighted concerns about Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who is reportedly a member of the IRGC’s Quds Force, and Vice President Javad Zarif, who has previously run malign influence operations in the United States and Europe. He called on the U.S. government to reject their visas as well.

To read the full letter to Secretary Blinken, please click here.

For more information or press inquiries, please contact press@uani.org.