Lankford Calls for Secretary of State to Revoke Visa for Iranian Foreign Minister Ahead of Planned Travel to US

WASHINGTON, DC — Senator James Lankford (R-OK) today sent a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken to request he immediately revoke the visa of Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian ahead of his planned travel to attend a United National Security Council meeting on April 18, 2024, in New York City, New York. In the letter, Lankford states that Amir-Abdollahian is a senior card-carrying member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and has direct ties to the heinous October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel and the ongoing attacks that Iran continues to orchestrate through Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Houthis. 

Lankford wrote,“In the wake of Saturday’s direct attack by Iran on our ally, Israel, I urge you to prevent Iran from using American soil as a platform amplify its anti-Israel and anti-American rhetoric.

“Given his ties to terrorism against Israel and US forces, Amir-Abdollahian should not be welcome in our country. April 18, the day of his anticipated meeting at the UN, also marks the 41st anniversary of Iran-backed Hezbollah’s 1983 bombing of the US Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, which killed 63 people, including 52 Lebanese and American Embassy employees, and injured 120. Several months later, Hezbollah’s bombing of the US Marine Corps barracks in Beirut would end up killing another 241 Americans. Hosting a senior member of the IRGC on the 41st anniversary of Hezbollah’s terrorist attack would be an insult to the victims and their families.”

Lankford concluded, “I strongly believe that denying Iranian Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian’s entry to the United States is necessary and consistent with the precedent set by President Obama and President Trump. Not only does Amir-Abdollahian have irrefutable ties to Hamas terrorists who are currently holding 133 hostages, including five Americans, but Iran’s irresponsible strikes and continued threats have jeopardized Israel’s security. I urge the Administration to take swift action and deny Amir-Abdollahian’s entry to the United States.”

Read the full text of the letter here or below.

Dear Secretary Blinken,

I write to request immediate action to revoke the visa of Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian ahead of his planned travel to attend a United Nations Security Council meeting on April 18, 2024. As documented by United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) in its letter to you last week, Amir-Abdollahian is a senior card-carrying member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and has direct ties to the heinous October 7, 2023, terrorist attack on Israel and the ongoing attacks that Iran continues to orchestrate through Hamas, Hezbollah, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Houthis. In the wake of Saturday’s direct attack by Iran on our ally, Israel, I urge you to prevent Iran from using American soil as a platform to amplify its anti-Israel and anti-American rhetoric.

As the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, Iran continues to relentlessly destabilize the region through its funding, training, and/or directing of more than 20 proxy organizations in the Middle East. With Iran’s backing, these organizations have repeatedly sought to undermine Israel’s sovereignty, and Amir-Abdollahian’s regime congratulated Hamas for the inhumane attacks of terror that were inflicted upon Israel on October 7. The Wall Street Journal reported that the IRGC, of which Amir-Abdollahian is a senior member, provided training to 500 Hamas terrorists in Iran ahead of October 7. Amir-Abdollahian personally participated in planning meetings for the attack, making him complicit in the deaths of over 1,200 individuals on that day alone. Amir-Abdollahian also represents a regime that carries responsibility for the more than 150 attacks by Iranian proxies on US forces in the Middle East in the days following October 7, including a drone attack claimed by Iranian-funded Kataib Hezbollah, which resulted in the deaths of three US service members. Days ago, on April 13, 2024, Iran demonstrated reckless and unprecedented behavior once again as it launched over 300 drones and missiles at Israel.

Given his ties to terrorism against Israel and US forces, Amir-Abdollahian should not be welcome in our country. April 18, the day of his anticipated meeting at the UN, also marks the 41st anniversary of Iran-backed Hezbollah’s 1983 bombing of the US Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, which killed 63 people, including 52 Lebanese and American Embassy employees, and injured 120. Several months later, Hezbollah’s bombing of the US Marine Corps barracks in Beirut would end up killing another 241 Americans. Hosting a senior member of the IRGC on the 41st anniversary of Hezbollah’s terrorist attack would be an insult to the victims and their families.

As the host country of the United Nations, the United States has historically granted visas to diplomats from both allies and adversaries. However, the United States holds the authority to deny visas to diplomats for security, terrorism, or foreign policy reasons. President Obama exercised that authority in 2014 when he denied a visa for Iran’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Hamid Aboutalebi, due to his connection to the 1979-1981 Iran hostage crisis. President Trump also exercised the right to deny a visa to Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif in 2020, when the United States received threats by Iran after the targeted airstrike that killed Qasem Soleimani.

I strongly believe that denying Iranian Foreign Minister Amir-Abdollahian’s entry to the United States is necessary and consistent with the precedent set by President Obama and President Trump. Not only does Amir-Abdollahian have irrefutable ties to Hamas terrorists who are currently holding 133 hostages, including five Americans, but Iran’s irresponsible strikes and continued threats have jeopardized Israel’s security. I urge the Administration to take swift action and deny Amir-Abdollahian’s entry to the United States.

Sincerely,

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