Iran FM Araghchi’s New York Visit Cancelled After US Rejects Visa, To Miss UNSC Meeting

Last Updated:May 26, 2026, 11:15 IST

The development comes amid ongoing back-channel talks between Iran and the United States, with Tehran accusing Washington of repeatedly changing its stance during negotiations.

The planned visit of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to New York has been cancelled because of US visa-related issues during travel preparations, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.

The cancellation means Araghchi will not attend the high-level session of the United Nations Security Council.

The development comes amid continuing back-channel negotiations between Iran and the United States, with Tehran accusing Washington of repeatedly shifting its position during talks aimed at ending hostilities.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei criticised the US stance during a weekly media briefing on Monday, saying the changing American position was complicating negotiations.

“It is correct that we have reached conclusions on a large portion of the discussion topics, but to say that this means the signing of an imminent agreement is something no one can claim. The frequent changes in the positions of American officials complicate every negotiation," Baqaei said.

He added that although progress had been made on several issues, discussions currently remain focused on ending the conflict rather than nuclear matters.

According to Iran’s semi-official ISNA news agency, Baqaei said, “The focus of the negotiations is on ending the war, and at this stage, we are not discussing details of the nuclear issue."

He clarified that technical discussions surrounding the nuclear file have not yet been included in the present phase of talks.

The remarks followed comments earlier on Monday by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said negotiations were continuing and that Washington believed a viable framework was under discussion.

“We’re still a work in progress… I think there is a pretty solid thing on the table in terms of their ability to open up the straits, get the straits open, and enter into a very real, significant, time-limited negotiation on nuclear matters. And hopefully we can pull it off," Rubio told reporters.

Rubio also said Gulf countries were supportive of efforts to reach a diplomatic solution, calling it the “right thing for the world to get done".

At the same time, he reiterated US President Donald Trump’s position that Washington would not rush into an agreement.

“As the president said, he’s not in a hurry; he’s not going to make a bad deal. We’re going to give diplomacy every chance to succeed before we explore the alternatives."

“We’re either going to have a good agreement, or we’re going to have to deal with it another way. We’d prefer to have a good agreement," Rubio said.

The diplomatic exchanges followed comments made by Trump on Sunday, when he said any eventual agreement with Iran would differ significantly from arrangements negotiated during the administration of former US President Barack Obama.

Trump also said the US would not “rush into a deal" with Iran and maintained that the American “blockade" on Iranian maritime ports would remain in “full force and effect" until a final agreement is formally completed and signed.

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