(JTA) — The United States denied visas to some 20 Iranian officials planning to come to New York for the annual meeting of the United Nations General Assembly.
Two government ministers were among those denied, the Iranian Fars news agency reported. Some 140 visas were approved for the Iranian delegation. The visas were requested two months ago.
The United States previously has denied visas to Iranian officials.
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his Iranian delegation left for New York from Tehran on Saturday, according to Fars. Ahmadinejad is set to address the General Assembly on Wednesday, which is Yom Kippur.
It will be Ahmadinejad’s eighth visit to New York as president of Iran; he will step down as president in 10 months since he is limited to two terms in office. Ahmadinejad also is currently the head of the 120-state Non-Aligned Movement.
