The United States on Monday, September 25, disclosed its rejection of a recent request from Iran’s foreign minister to visit Washington, citing apprehensions about Tehran’s history, which includes previous detentions of American citizens.
The United States said Monday it refused a request by Iran’s foreign minister to visit Washington last week, pointing to concerns about Tehran’s record including past detentions of US citizens.
Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian reportedly sought to travel to visit Iran’s consular interest section following the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Iran last week allowed five US citizens to leave in a prisoner swap in which the United States also arranged the transfer of $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds from South Korea to an account in Qatar.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has played down speculation that the prisoner deal could lead to broader diplomatic movement, such as a resumption of talks on Iran’s contested nuclear program.
The news site Amwaj.media first reported on Amir-Abdollahian’s hope to visit Washington, in what would have been the first by an Iranian foreign minister in 14 years.
The report, quoting anonymous sources, said that Amir-Abdollahian had said he wanted personally to review the consular operation but that his goal may have also been “to generate positive headlines.”
The United States under an agreement as host of the United Nations allows in representatives of all member states but restricts the movement of officials from some nations deemed hostile to the New York City area.
Khalil Wakim, with AFP
