Iranian diplomats miss UNSC meeting on Gaza after U.S. delays visas

The United States has prevented Iranian diplomats from taking part in a United Nations Security Council meeting which was scheduled to take place on Wednesday to discuss the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
“The U.S. government has delayed issuing visas for me and other Iranian officials, which has prevented us from participating in a meeting being held today at the United Nations,” said Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian on Wednesday.
“The visas were issued at 1:00 a.m. local time today, making it impossible for the delegation to participate in the UNSC’s meeting scheduled for this morning,” he added.
The top Iranian diplomat’s last visit to the U.N. happened late October, where he warned the U.S. that it would “not be spared” from the consequences of Israel’s relentless attacks on the territory if it continues its blind support for the regime.
Some believe Washington’s delay in issuing visas for the Iranian delegation was deliberate, as the Biden administration has been under growing pressure by U.S. Republicans since Amir Abdollahian’s last presence in the organization headquartered in New York.
“He publicly threatened us and we are doing nothing,” said a political analyst on Fox News following Amir Abdollahian’s October speech at the United Nations General Assembly.
Based on the 1947 U.N. Headquarters Agreement, the U.S. cannot restrict diplomats’ access to the body.
Russia previously criticized Washington for failing to issue visas for its U.N. delegations, saying the country is raising increasing doubts about the validity of its right to retain its status as host state for the U.N. Headquarters.