US rejects Iran's nominee for UN ambassador (Updated)

Julian Pecquet

Apr 10, 2014

EDITORS' NOTE: Reuters and other foreign media are subject to Iranian restrictions on their ability to film or take pictures in Tehran.

A statue of a U.S. hostage is displayed in front of the main building of the former U.S. embassy in Tehran November 19, 2011. The former U.S. embassy was the site of the 1979-1981 hostage crisis in which a group of militant Iranian students held 52 U.S. diplomats hostage for 444 days. The building is currently being used by the Iranian Revolutionary Guards. REUTERS/Raheb H — Iran's UN ambassador, Hamid Aboutalebi, alleged to have played a role in the Iran hostage crisis, was targeted in legislation this week. Above, a statue of a US hostage is displayed in front of the former US Embassy in Tehran, Nov. 19, 2011. — REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi

The White House on Friday formally announced that it would not allow Iran’s pick for UN envoy to enter the US, one day after legislation to that effect unanimously cleared Congress.

“We have informed the United Nations and Iran that we will not issue a visa to Mr. [Hamid] Aboutalebi,” White House spokesman Jay Carney told reporters at his daily press briefing. “We certainly share the intent of the bill passed by Congress.”