Russia says US did not grant visa for official to attend UN meeting

Russia accused the U.S. of denying visas to Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi to attend a UN Security Council meeting chaired by China, calling it a breach of U.S. obligations. The meeting, focused on upholding the UN Charter, saw Russia criticize Western-led remilitarization efforts as threats to global security, while the U.S. denied preventing Iranian travel." "article": "Russia’s UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, accused the U.S. on Tuesday of violating its obligations as host of the UN by denying a visa to Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov, who was invited by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi to attend a UN Security Council meeting. Nebenzia called the denial an 'egregious instance of disrespect,' citing the UN Headquarters Agreement, which requires access for all member state officials. The meeting, chaired by Wang, aimed to discuss upholding the UN Charter and strengthening multilateral cooperation, with discussions set to resume Thursday after a UN holiday." "A UN diplomat also reported that Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi was apparently denied a visa for the same meeting, though a U.S. State Department official later clarified that Washington did not block his travel. Iranian state media had previously cited 'U.S. visa procedures' as the reason for canceling Araqchi’s trip, which included a scheduled meeting with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. The U.S. mission to the UN declined to comment on either case." "Nebenzia emphasized that Alimov, who oversees UN-related matters, was explicitly invited by China’s UN presidency, framing the visa denial as a broader violation of diplomatic norms. He argued that the U.S. failure to grant access undermined the UN-centric international system, accusing Western-led countries of using 'double standards' to maintain dominance. The Russian envoy also warned that remilitarization in Germany and Japan posed a 'dangerous threat' to global security, reversing outcomes of World War Two." "China’s UN mission stated it had no information on visa issues, while UN spokesperson Farhan Haq reiterated expectations that the host country must issue visas for all officials participating in UN activities. The meeting’s focus on the UN Charter came amid rising tensions, including Iran’s accusation that the U.S. violated a ceasefire after conducting strikes in southern Iran. The White House dismissed an Iranian state television report claiming Tehran would restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz as a 'complete fabrication.'