US bill aims to block sanctioned Iran officials from UN
Senator Ted Cruz introduced a bill on Thursday to stop sanctioned Iranian officials from entering the United States for next week’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting in New York.
Senator Ted Cruz introduced a bill on Thursday to stop sanctioned Iranian officials from entering the United States for next week’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) meeting in New York.
The bill, called the “Strengthening Entry Visa Enforcement and Restrictions (SEVER) Act,” was introduced by the Republican senator from Texas.
The bill focuses on officials it says are linked to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
There was no immediate indication that such personnel were due to attend. Iran routinely sends scores of officials and staff to the annual meeting.
“The Iranian regime and the corrupt officials who run it are responsible for the murder, injury and kidnapping of thousands of Americans,” The Hill cited Cruz as saying.
“The Ayatollah means it when he chants ‘Death to America,’ and the United States has developed and imposed sanctions to counter the threats posed by him and those directly around him,” Cruz said.
The bill was initially introduced under the same name in 2022 but stalled due to lack of votes and political disagreements.
The current bill has new Republican sponsors, including Senators Tom Cotton, John Barrasso, Ashley Moody, Rick Scott and Joni Ernst.
Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are set to attend UNGA’s high-level meetings starting September 22 in New York.
A companion version of the SEVER Act was also introduced in the House of Representatives by New York Republican Representative Claudia Tenney.
The 80th session of the UN General Assembly opened on September 9, with world leaders due to arrive in New York on September 22.
The 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement requires the United States to grant visas to UN representatives, including world leaders, for UN-related activities in New York, with exceptions only for proven security threats.
The United States is considering special travel restrictions for the 2025 Iranian UNGA delegation, including State Department approval for shopping at Costco or Sam’s Club and limits on movement outside New York City.
Washington earlier this month revoked or denied visas for most Palestinian officials to attend the UNGA, in a move seen as a protest about Western allies' looming move to recognize a Palestinian state.
