The United States has approved visas for a delegation from Iran to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York next week, despite ongoing tensions between the two countries. The State Department confirmed that a “core delegation” from Iran will be permitted to participate in the assembly, which begins Tuesday.

The Iranian group is expected to include President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. This delegation will be smaller than in previous years and will be subject to restrictions on travel and expenditures while in the U.S., reflecting the continued sanctions imposed on Iran. Pezeshkian is scheduled to deliver a speech at the UN on Wednesday, marking his first visit to the United States since the escalation of military actions involving Iran and Israel that began in late February.

Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is also expected to attend the General Assembly, speaking on Thursday. For a second consecutive year, the U.S. government has declined to grant visas to members of the Palestinian Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organisation, barring their attendance at the assembly.

The decision to allow high-level Iranian officials into the United States for the UN event highlights Washington’s commitment to maintaining diplomatic channels at the multilateral forum, despite persistent bilateral disputes and regional conflicts. However, the ongoing sanctions and movement limitations imposed on the Iranian delegation illustrate the broader context of strained relations between the two nations.