Iran Refutes US Claim, Says Has Formally Proposed UN Envoy Pick
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian foreign ministry on Wednesday rejected the White House’s claim that Tehran’s new choice for the UN mission was a potential selection that had not been formally made, stressing that Hamid Abutalebi is Iran’s nominee for the post of UN ambassador.
White House Spokesman Jay Carney said on Tuesday that Washington did not welcome Iran's choice of Hamid Abutalebi as its new United Nations ambassador.
“We've informed the government of Iran that this potential selection is not viable," Carney told reporters.
He also claimed that Iran's new choice was a "potential selection" that had "not been formally made."
In reply, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham made it clear that the US government’s manner towards Iran’s choice was in no way acceptable.
“We have also announced formally that the US administration’s behavior towards the Islamic Republic of Iran’s representative in the United Nations is not acceptable,” Afkham said on Wednesday.
“Dr. Hamid Abutalebi is the Islamic Republic of Iran’s choice to represent in the United Nations,” she underlined.
The spokeswoman further applauded Abutalebi for his stellar record of diplomatic missions in Italy, Belgium and Australia, noting that he had once been granted the US visa to go to the United Nations in the 1990s.
The US Senate passed a legislation on Monday seeking to bar Abutalebi from entering the US.
Afterwards, Afkham underlined that Tehran will follow the case through diplomatic channels, and added, “Any official response from the official channels will be the criterion for our subsequent decision and measure.”
