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            US Vows Not to Issue Visa to Iran's Choice for UN Envoy

   by VOA News

   The White House says it has informed the United Nations and Iran that
   the United States will not issue a visa to the man Iran wants to become
   its new U.N. ambassador.
   American officials oppose the selection of Hamid Abutalebi because of
   his alleged involvement in the 1979 seizure of the U.S. Embassy in
   Tehran. He was allegedly part of the Muslim student group that held 52
   American diplomats hostage for 444 days -- in what has become known as
   the Iran hostage crisis.
   White House spokesman Jay Carney said Friday the U.S. has made its
   position on Abutalebi clear to Iranian officials. Carney repeated a
   statement he made earlier in the week that Abutalebi's selection is
   "not viable."
   Abutalebi has worked as Iran's ambassador to Belgium, the European
   Union, Italy and Australia. He has insisted that his involvement in the
   group Muslim Students Following the Imam's Line was limited to
   translation and negotiation.
   The hostage crisis was a key moment in the lives of many senior Iranian
   political figures and led to diplomatic relations being cut between
   Washington and Tehran.
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   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/us-vows-not-to-issue-visa-to-irans-ch
   oice-for-un-envoy/1891535.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/us-vows-not-to-issue-visa-to-irans-choice-for-un-envoy/1891535.html