Iran’s foreign minister has left the United States after unsuccessfully seeking to visit Washington DC over the weekend, Amwaj.media has learned. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian had spent most of last week in New York, where he attended the United Nations General Assembly. If the endeavor to travel to the US capital had been successful, it would have been the first such visit by an Iranian chief diplomat in 14 years.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, multiple informed Iranian sources charged that an application for a waiver from restrictions on movements by Iranian officials lodged by Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was rejected. Amwaj.media was unable to independently confirm the assertion as US law prohibits US government officials from commenting on visa applications.

Restrictions on movement

The Iranian embassy in Washington has not been active since 1980. The Islamic Republic operates a permanent mission to the United Nations, staffed by diplomats and operating from an office building in New York. Iran also has an Interests Section at the Embassy of Pakistan. Having spent most of...