Iran criticizes US for denying visa to proposed UN envoy
Reuters
2014-04-12
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Meet Hamid Abutalebi.
He's a top Iranian diplomat and the country's proposed new envoy to the United Nations.
But he won't be coming to the UN if the U.S. has anything to say about it.
Congress voted to deny Abutalebi a visa because of suspected links to the 1979-1981 hostage crisis.
Abutalebi says he periodically acted as an interpreter for the militants who held the hostages.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney:
(SOUNDBITE) (English) WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY JAY CARNEY SAYING:
"We've communicated with the Iranians on a number of levels and made clear our position on this, and that includes our position that the selection was not viable and our position that we will not be issuing a visa."
Back Tehran, Iranians are protesting the move.
As demonstrators chant anti-U.S. slogans, an ultra-conservative parliamentarian rejects the U.S. legislation.
(SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) ULTRA-CONSERVATIVE MP MEHRDAD BAZRPASH SAYING:
"Our
He's a top Iranian diplomat and the country's proposed new envoy to the United Nations.
But he won't be coming to the UN if the U.S. has anything to say about it.
Congress voted to deny Abutalebi a visa because of suspected links to the 1979-1981 hostage crisis.
Abutalebi says he periodically acted as an interpreter for the militants who held the hostages.
White House Press Secretary Jay Carney:
(SOUNDBITE) (English) WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY JAY CARNEY SAYING:
"We've communicated with the Iranians on a number of levels and made clear our position on this, and that includes our position that the selection was not viable and our position that we will not be issuing a visa."
Back Tehran, Iranians are protesting the move.
As demonstrators chant anti-U.S. slogans, an ultra-conservative parliamentarian rejects the U.S. legislation.
(SOUNDBITE) (Farsi) ULTRA-CONSERVATIVE MP MEHRDAD BAZRPASH SAYING:
"Our
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