US issues visas for Iranian leaders to attend UN meeting

Top Iranian officials have received the necessary U.S. visas to attend the United Nations General Assembly next week in New York, Iran’s U.N. mission announced Thursday.

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif were issued their visas and will be able to attend the meeting with other world leaders, Reuters reported.

Iranian U.N. mission spokesman Alireza Miryousefi confirmed to Reuters the visas had been provided.{mosads}

The Iranian president had reportedly been struggling to retrieve his visa, according to Iranian state media, which said he could cancel his visit if the pair’s visas were not provided.

Rouhani had said Tuesday that the country will not negotiate with the United States under any circumstances amid heightened tensions over an attack on two Saudi oil sites last weekend.

President Trump said Thursday that he has instructed the Treasury Department to “substantially” increase sanctions on Iran after the attack, which the State Department has blamed on Iran.