US not to issue visa to Iranian UN envoy
April 12, 2014  09:41

The US has said it would not issue a visa to Iran's newly appointed ambassador to the United Nations Hamid Aboutalebi, who has been linked to the 1979 hostage crisis.       

 

"We have informed the United Nations and Iran that we will not issue a visa to Abutalebi," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told reporters yesterday.        

 

His remarks came after the Congress overwhelmingly passed a bill barring Aboutalebi from US soil.  "We certainly share the intent of the bill passed by Congress, as we have already told the UN and Iran that we will not issue a visa. We'll review the legislation; we're doing that now. And we will work to address any issues related to its utility and constitutionality," he said.        

 

The bill expands upon a 1990 law for which President George Bush issued a signing statement expressing constitutional concerns.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES