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The United Nations headquarters building is seen through a window bearing the UN logo in Manhattan, New York, U.S., August 15, 2014. / Reuters, Yonhap

Amid a lingering deadlock in military clashes between the U.S. and Iran, the U.S. government has permitted high-ranking Iranian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, to attend the United Nations General Assembly.

According to Reuters and AP, the U.S. State Department announced on the 17th (local time) that, in line with its obligations as the UN host nation, it approved visas for a core Iranian delegation comprising President Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and essential working-level staff.

However, the U.S. government imposed tighter controls than in the past, strictly limiting the delegation's travel radius to designated essential zones, such as UN headquarters, and prohibiting purchases of luxury items. The size of the delegation was also significantly scaled down compared to previous sessions.

The visa issuance comes as the armed conflict drags on following the outbreak of large-scale military clashes on February 28. The two nations have yet to find clear common ground on core issues, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a return to nuclear negotiations, while attacks on vessels in the Red Sea by Yemen's Houthi rebels continue to fuel oil price spikes and security instability.

The U.S. government continues to designate Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism and maintains sweeping sanctions, including cutting off financial networks.

While both sides have held intermittent talks aimed at ending the conflict, no concrete timetables or agendas have been made public.

Meanwhile, regarding the UN General Assembly, the U.S. government rejected visa applications for a Palestinian Authority delegation the previous day. The U.S. cited Palestinian efforts to internationalize the Gaza conflict by taking the issue to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

The Palestinian side criticized the move as punitive, asserting that it does not aid in a peaceful resolution and instead undermines efforts toward a political settlement.

With the U.S. and Iran having engaged in fighting for over six months while maintaining intermittent behind-the-scenes contacts, the international community is closely watching whether the New York visit will provide a diplomatic breakthrough to end the conflict and ease tensions.

                                                                                                           Lee Jeong-eun