By the Associated Press
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he thinks the Iranian president and foreign minister should be granted US visas to attend next week's United Nations General Assembly.
President Donald Trump and new national security adviser Robert O'Brien arrive on Marine One to talk with reporters before boarding Air Force One at Los Angeles International Airport, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2019, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci/MANILA BULLETIN)
"If it was up to me, I'd let them come," Trump said on a tarmac in Los Angeles. "I would certainly not want to keep people out if they want to come."
The administration is required to issue the visas under the UN agreement with the United States, the host country of the organization. The State Department, which issues visas, does not comment on individual cases.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told reporters Wednesday that it has been in contact with the US in order to solve all delegations' outstanding visa problems.
The tension between the US and Iran has escalated with the weekend attack on oil installations in Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia alleged Wednesday that the attack by drones and cruise missiles on the heart of the kingdom's oil industry was "unquestionably sponsored by Iran," but did not directly accuse Tehran of launching the assault. Iran, which has denied being involved, said it will retaliate "immediately" if it is targeted in response.
Iran's state-run news agency IRNA said earlier that Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, may not attend the general assembly in New York because the US had not yet issued them visas. IRNA said Zarif was to travel there Friday and Rouhani was to follow Monday.
The UN has been floated as a possible place for a meeting between Trump and Rouhani, but US officials and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei have said direct talks are not planned.