Iran delegation absent from UNSC meeting on Gaza due to US visa delay

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
29 Nov 2023 15:24
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Iranian FM Hossein Amir-Abdollahian says the visas were issued at 1:00 a.m. today which made it impossible to attend the UNSC meeting this morning.

Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, left, meets with Hamas chief Ismail Haniyeh in Doha, Qatar, Oct. 31, 2023. (Iranian Foreign Ministry/AP)

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told IRNA on Wednesday that the Iranian delegation was unable to attend the United Nations Security Council’s (UNSC) meeting on the Israeli aggression on Gaza as a result of the US impeding the issuance of visas for Iranian diplomats.

Amir-Abdollahian stated that the visas were issued at 1:00 a.m. today which made it impossible to attend the UNSC meeting this morning.

He noted that the efforts to sustain the ceasefire in Gaza continue and stressed that the Palestinian Resistance movement Hamas should decide on the initiatives in this context. He added that efforts are ongoing as well to exchange all Palestinian prisoners for Israeli captives.

In a separate comment, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s visit to Turkey was supposed to take place but the Iranian and Turkish presidents agreed to postpone given Tuesday's UNSC meeting on Palestine is of top importance and priority.

This comes the same day after Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder confirmed that the United States is investigating an overflight of an Iranian drone near the USS Dwight Eisenhower which was sailing through the Strait of Hormuz.

"Yeah, I'm aware of those reports. We're looking into that, and so don't have anything to pass along now, but if we do, we certainly will let you know," Ryder said after the Iranian army posted footage of the overflight.

Citing a US official, Fox News reported that an Iranian drone flew near the US aircraft carrier in the Gulf. The drone allegedly flew near the vessel in international waters and ignored multiple warnings.