Forty US lawmakers led by Congressman Mike Lawler have called on President Trump to bar Iranian officials from freely entering the United States during this month’s UN General Assembly in New York, citing human rights abuses and support for terrorism.
In a letter to the White House dated September 4, the Republican members of the Congress urged the administration to restrict visas and limit the movement of Iranian delegates.
"We respectfully urge you to restrict the Iranian delegation’s freedom of movement, and, to the extent possible, refrain from issuing visas to key delegation members, including for its President, Masoud Pezeshkian," the Congresspeople said.
The letter highlighted a “brutal crackdown on ethnic minorities, women’s rights activists, and political dissidents,” noting that nearly 1,500 people had been executed in the past year alone.
"In solidarity with the Iranian people, who are calling for a multi-party, secular, democratic, non-nuclear republic of Iran, and in furtherance of US national security interests, we urge you to use the full force of the law to prevent the Iranian regime from exploiting the United Nations General Assembly meeting to present a deceptive image of moderation."
On Friday, the Associated Press reported the Trump administration is considering new restrictions on foreign delegations attending this month’s UN General Assembly, including measures that would further limit the movements of Iranian diplomats in New York.
One proposal would prevent Iranian officials from shopping at wholesale clubs such as Costco and Sam’s Club without State Department permission, the report said, adding that such stores have long been favored by Iranian diplomats, who buy large quantities of goods unavailable in Iran and send them home.
Three years ago, footage of then-President Ebrahim Raisi’s delegation in New York drew wide attention on social media, showing aides loading piles of goods with US retail labels into a truck outside their hotel.
The congressional appeal comes as thousands of world leaders and diplomats prepare to converge on New York later this month for the annual high-level week of the United Nations General Assembly.
On August 31, the State Department said it would ensure that foreign visitors do not pose a threat to US national security when issuing visas, in response to a question from Iran International on whether the Iranian delegation would be allowed to attend the UN General Assembly.
While the United States is generally obligated under the UN Headquarters Agreement to issue visas to representatives of member states, the Trump administration "will not waver in upholding American law and the highest standards of national security and public safety in the conduct of our visa process," a State Department spokesman said.
"Ensuring that foreign visitors to the United States do not pose a threat to US national security or public safety remains a paramount priority of the US government," the spokesperson added in response to Iran International's inquiry.
