Iranian FM Cites Visa Delay As Obstacle To UNSC Gaza Session Attendance

Iran's Foreign Minister claims that a delayed visa issuance by Washington prevented his attendance at the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) session on the Gaza war in New York.

Scheduled for Wednesday, the UNSC meeting aimed to address the ongoing situation in Gaza following the Hamas invasion of Israel on October 7. At least 1,200 mostly civilians were murdered and 240 more taken hostage. Retaliatory attacks have since left more than 15,000 dead in Gaza and tens of thousands displaced.

Currently, a temporary ceasefire is in place as a hostage release takes place. In return, Israel is allowing the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israel's jails.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian informed reporters that the United States issued his visa too late, making it logistically impossible for him to travel to New York in time for the session.

"It was planned that this week President Ebrahim Raeisi's official trip to Ankara would take place, and everything was coordinated. However, because the United Nations Security Council had a session regarding the situation in Gaza and the continuation of the ceasefire, the foreign ministers were invited," Amir-Abdollahian stated.

The UNSC session was called upon China's request, as the nation currently holds the rotating presidency. China, traditionally tied to the Palestinian side, has taken a largely hesitant and restrained stance on the Israel-Gaza conflict. This approach is further influenced by China's growing economic relationship with Israel, contributing to its reluctance to take a definitive side in the ongoing conflict.