Trump Blocks Visa To Iranian Foreign Minister Traveling For UNSC Meet

The Trump administration has declined to issue a visa to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who was about to leave for Thursday’s meeting of the UN Security Council, Reuters news agency reported on Monday.

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The decision to reject visa for Javad Zarif followed an escalation in tension between Iran and the US after the commander of the Special Forces of Al-Quds of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – Qasem Soleimani was killed in US airstrikes.

The operation was carried out at the direction of US President Donald Trump. According to the Pentagon, the strike was defensive, since it was aimed at protecting US troops in Iraq and other countries. Washington blamed Soleimani for allegedly approving a rally outside the US Embassy in Baghdad earlier this week.

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Following the attack, the Supreme National Security Council of Iran vowed to exact “severe revenge” on those involved in Soleimani’s killing, blaming the United States for the attack. In a phone call with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif blasted the attack as an act of terrorism from the side of the US. He pointed out that Tehran would take international measures to hold Washington responsible for the general’s murder.

The situation in the Middle East sharply worsened after the death of Soleimani. Tehran promised the United States a tough response and began to reduce the implementation of its obligations under the nuclear deal.