Oh American..

[kentonio]

Iran anger over US visa refusal for UN envoy Hamid Aboutalebi

Iran has insisted it will not replace its new envoy to the UN in New York and accused the US of acting illegally by refusing a visa to the diplomat.

A senior Iranian official said they would "pursue the matter via legal mechanisms" with the United Nations.

The US accuses Hamid Aboutalebi of links to the group that seized the US embassy in Tehran in 1979, an incident that soured ties between the countries.

Mr Aboutalebi says that he only acted as a translator for the group.

Congress passed a bill last week that would allow the US to refuse an ambassadorial selection if the candidate posed a security risk.

Earlier this week, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif condemned the move by Congress.

He characterised those in favour of the bill as "a group of radicals" and said the move would not influence Iran's policies.

Although the bill still requires the signature of the president before it can become law, Congress appears to have succeeded in getting Mr Aboutalebi barred.

White House spokesman Jay Carney said the president "shared the intent of the bill", and would not issue a visa.

Mr Babaei said the White House decision was "in contravention of international law, the obligation of the host country and the inherent right of sovereign member states to designate their representatives to the United Nations".

Under international law, the US as the host nation for the UN is obliged to grant visas to states' representatives.

In the most high-profile similar case, the US refused a visa to Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to speak at the UN in 1998. The UN condemned that decision.

The UN has not yet commented on Mr Aboutalebi's situation.

Mr Aboutalebi has previously served as Iran's ambassador to Belgium, the European Union, Italy and Australia.

He has said said he was not part of the group that took over the US embassy, and was only later asked to translate for the students.

The 52 Americans were held for 444 days during the crisis.

The hostage crisis was part of the revolution that overthrew Iran's monarchy and installed the Islamic republic.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-27000232

At a time when the west is lecturing Russia on international law, is probably not the best time to decide to just flout it yourselves.

[PLATO]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-27000232

At a time when the west is lecturing Russia on international law, is probably not the best time to decide to just flout it yourselves.

So very true. The U.S. may not like their choice in diplomats but the very nature of the U.N. is that each country can send who they want. As the host country we have a responsibility to allow that regardless of our feelings. This is a bad move.

The scale, however, does not begin to approach annexing territory from a soveriegn country against its will.

[Sava]

Denying a visa to a diplomat is not even in the same ballpark as the occupation and annexation of another country.

so yeah

nice try

[Tuberski]

If they don't like, they can move. The host country shouldn't have to put up with more rules than everyone else.

ACK!

[regexcellent]

Denying a visa to a diplomat is not even in the same ballpark as the occupation and annexation of another country.

so yeah

nice try

for some reason that made me think of this

(not that I disagree)

[Sava]

just recently watched that got stoned and fell asleep with it on

'aint no motha****in ballpark'

[DinoDoc]

The thread title irritates me for some reason.

[Sava]

Agree.

My reason: Two .'s instead of three does not an ellipsis make

[DinoDoc]

Agree.

My reason: Two .'s instead of three does not an ellipsis make

Truth. I'm unsure Oh American is proper English either.

[Sava]

It's a well established fact that the people from his land don't speak proper English.

[kentonio]

Denying a visa to a diplomat is not even in the same ballpark as the occupation and annexation of another country.

so yeah

nice try

Because that's exactly what I said.

At a time when we need to try and exert influence on other countries to obey international law, we need to be whiter than whiter, not just 'well yeah we break it too, but not as bad as you foreigners!'.

[DinoDoc]

Seriously, can a mod correct ken's OP?

[Sava]

we need to be whiter than whiter

racism

[Buster Crabbe's Uncle]

I considered saying the same thing - except, ken's right.

Still, minor trolling

[Sava]

I don't disagree. But for this kind of argument, maybe ken should focus on drone strikes rather than diplomatic asshattery.

Denying a visa to a diplomat is about the weakest "violation" of international law I can think of.

And the troll is poor.