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UN gets involved in US-Iran standoff over granting visa to Iranian diplomat

NEW YORK, April 15 (KUNA) -- After labeling the standoff between US and Iran over granting a visa to Tehran's UN Ambassador as a "bilateral" issue, the UN confirmed its Legal Department is examining an Iranian letter in that regard and that a UN panel will soon meet to discuss the issue.
UN Spokesman Stephane Dujarric confirmed to reporters during the daily press briefing Tuesday that the UN Legal Department has received an Iranian letter complaining about the host country - US - which refused to grant Iran's pick Hamid Aboutalebi a visa, and seeking the UN to interfere.
Dujarric said Under Secretary General for Legal Affairs Patricia O'Brien would meet later today with representatives from the Permanent Mission of Iran.
He added that the Host Country Committee will also meet on April 22 to hear from the Iranian delegation.
The US refused to grant Aboutalebi a visa for allegedly participating in the hostage taking of 52 American diplomats for 444 days in the US Embassy in Teheran in 1979.
Tehran rejected the charge and said it has no intention to replace Aboutalebi.
The US usually grants visas to diplomats accredited to the UN, but has the right to reject the visa request if the US interests are at stake.
In Washington, State Department Spokesperson Jen Psaki told reporters that Aboutalebi was involved in the 1979 hostage crisis.
"Given his role in the events of 1979, which clearly matter profoundly to the American people, it would be unacceptable for the United States to grant this visa," she said.
She stressed that the decision of denial is a "message that we have conveyed very clearly to the UN as well as to the Iranian government." Reacting to Iran's UN move, Psaki said the US still will not grant Aboutalebi a visa. (end) sj.ak.bs