by Michael Yoakum
Impunity Watch Reporter, North America

WASHINGTON, D.C., United States – The Obama administration said Friday that it would deny to issue a visa to Iran’s newly named ambassador, Hamid Aboutalebi, who participated in the 1979 taking of the American embassy in Tehran.  The White House statement came in response to pressure from the House and Senate which both voted in favor of a bill barring Aboutalebi from the US.

Aboutalebi was a member of the Muslim Students Following the Imam’s Line, a group of militants responsible for taking the American embassy in 1979.  He served as a translator for the students, communicating with the 55 American hostages.
Aboutalebi is a veteran diplomat in Iran, having served as Iranian ambassador to Australia, Belgium, Italy and the European Union.  He is believed to be be close to the Iranian leader, President Hassan Rouhani, the moderate reformer who took office last year.

State Department officials have not offered any specific reasons for opposing Aboutalebi’s nomination, but appear adamantly against him. “We think this nomination would be extremely troubling,” said State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf, adding “We’re taking a close look at the case now and we’ve raised our serious concerns about this possible nomination with the government [of] Iran.”

While not expressly denying Aboutalebi’s visa, the White House has relayed that would not accept his application.  White House Press Secretary Jay Carney told the press core, “We have already told the U.N. and Iran that we will not issue a visa.”

Abbas Abdi, one of the leaders of the group that took the American hostages in 1979 said Aboutalebi had no “relation to the decision-making team, the group who invaded and those who continued the hostage captivity in Iran.”

Denying Aboutalebi a visa could create complications for the Obama Administration’s relationship with Iran.  President Obama has attempted to re-engage  with Iran on its nuclear program since the election of Rouhani.

For more information, please see:

BBC News – US refuses visa for Iran’s UN envoy choice Hamid Aboutalebi – 11 April 2014

Fox News – State Dept. says Iran’s pick for UN ambassador ‘troubling’ amid outrage over hostage crisis link – 2 April 2014

CNN – White House: U.S. won’t issue visa for Iran’s newly named U.N. envoy – 12 April 2014

Bloomberg News – White House Tells Iran That Hostage Taker ‘Not Viable’ – 8 April 2014

The New York Times – U.S. Says Iran’s Pick for U.N. Envoy Won’t Get a Visa – 11 April 2014