The story: A visa application for conservative Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to attend the upcoming United Nations General Assembly has been submitted to the United States, Amwaj.media can confirm. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior Iranian source declined to elaborate on the size of the Iranian delegation. The source also notably opted against speculating on whether the Joe Biden administration will waive restrictions which bar the entry of senior Iranian government officials into the US. Earlier on Aug. 2, an Iranian government spokesman stated that there is “initial planning” for Raisi to travel to New York next month.

The backdrop: The former Donald Trump administration in Sept. 2019 issued a travel ban on senior Iranian government officials and their family members. The ban was issued during an ongoing visit by the Iranian president at the time, Hassan Rouhani (2013-21), who was in New York to attend the UN General Assembly...