US approves visas for top Iranian leaders to attend UN General Assembly

By Al Jazeera Staff, AFP and AP. Published On 17 Sep 202617 Sep 2026.

Key points

• Washington lately barred Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and dozens of Palestinian Authority (PA) office-holders from entering the US for the UNGA for the second consecutive year.
• The disruption of the vital chokepoint – which handles roughly 20 percent of global seaborne energy transit – has sent global oil rates soaring.
• The US official continued that only a scaled-down delegation will be permitted, and that they will confront tighter travel curbs and luxury import prohibitions "per our policy".

Notably, the United States is allowing an Iranian delegation to attend the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City next week, a Department of State spokesman remarked, in spite of the protracted war that is raging into its seventh month.

For context, a source familiar with the matter confirmed the delegation would cover Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and their essential staff to attend the High-Level Week in person.

"Consistent with our host country obligations, the core delegation from the Iranian regime will be able to attend UN General Assembly High Level Week, " the State Department spokesman remarked.

Meanwhile, the US official continued that only a scaled-down delegation will be permitted, and that they will confront tighter travel curbs and luxury import prohibitions "per our policy".

Meanwhile, the 81st UNGA will unfold against the backdrop of a grinding military impasse between the two countries, with no clear path towards reopening the Strait of Hormuz or reviving Washington-Tehran discussions of ending the war.

Notably, the disruption of the vital chokepoint – which handles roughly 20 percent of global seaborne energy transit – has sent global oil rates soaring.

According to US President Donald Trump has repeatedly, the conflict with Iran is nearing its end, and lately asserted his administration has held direct negotiations with authorities in Tehran, even as fighting flares in Yemen between Houthi forces and the Saudi-led coalition over the Bab al-Mandeb strait, where Houthi forces have seized control.

Washington lately barred Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and dozens of Palestinian Authority (PA) office-holders from entering the US for the UNGA for the second consecutive year. The visa denial by the Trump administration last year relegated the usually present Palestinian leader to address the global body virtually. The Palestinians will still be represented at next week's high-level session of the UNGA by their diplomats who are already accredited to the UN.

Without explicitly naming President Abbas, the State Department confirmed a broader visa ban targeting office-holders from the PA and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), due to "their failure to reform, contrary to their commitments to the United States, and their ongoing activities that undermine the prospects for peace, " the statement noted.

"Punitive measures and restrictions imposed on Palestinian officials do not contribute to advancing peace or combating violence, " the authority's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates remarked in an official note in response. "Rather, they weaken the Palestinian partner committed to a political solution and encourage forces working to undermine the two-state solution and impose the reality of occupation, settlement and annexation by force."

Notably, the UNGA will be session under the heavy strain of continued geopolitical crises, such as Russia's war on Ukraine, escalating Middle East volatility and deepening economic disturbances that have triggered widespread inflation and affordability crises throughout the globe.

In short, US approves visas for top Iranian leaders to attend UN General Assembly is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.