US, Iran continue diplomatic tension
(VOVworld) – White House spokesman Jay Carney said Friday that the US will not issue a visa to Hamid Aboutalebi, Iran’s newly appointed ambassador to the United Nations because of his ties to the American hostage crisis in Tehran in 1979.
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Mr. Aboutalebi denies being part of the core group that took
the US diplomats hostage in 1979. (Photo: Iranian Presidency) |
Washington said that Aboutalebi was a member of an Islamic militant group that held 52 Americans hostage in the crisis in 1979, worsening diplomatic ties between the US and Iran. Although Aboutalebi affirmed that he was not in the hostage, but the US insisted he was a “terrorist”.
Tehran called the Washington’s decision unaccepted, adding that the decision will put the bilateral relations at a standstill. Meanwhile, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the UN hope that the two sides will seek a consensus soon.