The Trump administration has approved visas for top Iranian officials, including the President and Foreign Minister, to attend next week’s UN General Assembly high-level meeting in New York even as the two countries are locked in a stalemated war.
In addition, Iran remains the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, according to the United States, which has imposed significant sanctions against the country and launched a new campaign in recent weeks aimed at severing “critical financial lifelines. The decision on the Iranian visas was announced just a day after the State Department denied visas to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation to come to the General Assembly. The core delegation includes President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, according to U.S. officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to visa privacy laws.
The State Department said on Thursday (September 17, 2026) that it had approved visas for Iran’s “core delegation,” along with essential staffers to participate in the UN meetings.
“The delegation will be under travel restrictions and will face prohibitions on the purchase of luxury and other goods per our policy.
“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 said.
The delegation is smaller than last year.”
