WASHINGTON--President Barack Obama signed legislation Friday
that effectively bans Iran from sending as its ambassador to the
United Nations a diplomat with ties to the 1979 hostage crisis at
the American embassy in Tehran.
The bill, which Congress passed last week, was targeted at
Iran's selection of Hamid Aboutalebi as its U.N. envoy, but urges
the White House more broadly to deny a visa to any representative
who "has been found to have been engaged in espionage or terrorist
activity directed against the United States or its allies, and if
that individual may pose a threat to United States national
security interest."
The White House had already said it would deny Mr. Aboutalebi a
visa. His selection by Iran has become a growing issue as the U.S.
tries to reach a diplomatic deal with Iran over its nuclear
program.
Mr. Obama issued a statement in signing the law, saying while he
agreed with Congress' concerns that "individuals who have engaged
in such activity may use the cover of diplomacy to gain access to
our nation," the legislation wouldn't trump presidential authority
on accepting or rejecting ambassadors to the U.N., which is based
in New York.
Mr. Aboutalebi, an experienced diplomat, has downplayed his role
in the hostage crisis. It is rare for the U.S. to deny a visa to a
U.N. ambassador.
Bernadette Meehan, a spokeswoman for the National Security
Council, said Mr. Aboutalebi's links to the hostage crisis made him
a "wholly inappropriate" choice.
"The selection of an individual who admits to playing a role in
the takeover of our embassy to be the permanent representative to
the United Nations is a profoundly inappropriate choice," Ms.
Meehan said. "The events of 1979 remain a matter of deep concern to
the American people."
Write to Carol E. Lee at carol.lee@wsj.com
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