
September 17th, 2026
The Trump administration approved visas for top Iranian officials.
The officials will go to the U.N. General Assembly meeting.
The meeting is next week in New York.
The State Department said this on Thursday.
It approved visas for Iran's "core delegation" and key staff.
U.S. officials said the group includes President Masoud Pezeshkian.
It also includes Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity.
They spoke because of visa privacy laws.
This decision is unusual.
Iran and the United States have been at war for over six months.
There is no sign of deals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
There is no sign of talks on Iran's nuclear program.
Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen increased attacks.
They attacked Saudi infrastructure and Red Sea shipping.
The United States calls Iran the world's top state sponsor of terrorism.
The U.S. has imposed heavy sanctions on Iran.
The U.S. hosts U.N. headquarters.
So it is generally limited in blocking foreign leaders from the General Assembly.
But it has denied or discouraged visas for leaders in active conflicts with the U.S.
Last year, it approved limited visas for Iranian diplomats.
But it imposed strict travel limits.
Those rules restricted how far Iranian officials could travel in New York City.
They also barred them from shopping at wholesale stores like Costco and Sam's Club.
The State Department said the Iranian delegation will face travel restrictions.
It will also face bans on buying luxury goods and other goods.
The State Department said the delegation is smaller than last year's.
The announcement came one day after another decision.
The State Department denied visas to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation.
The department accused the Palestinian Authority of trying to "internationalize" the Gaza war.
It said the Authority used international courts.
It also said the Authority pays stipends to prisoners jailed in Israel.
The Palestinian Authority condemned the move.
It said such measures weaken the Palestinian partner.
That partner is committed to a political solution.
September 17th, 2026

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