Three U.S. congressmen attempting to supervise Iran’s observance of the nuclear agreement have been denied travel visas to Iran by the Iranian government.
According to a letter sent to the State Department last week and obtained by the Washington Examiner, the Iranian government said no Americans or any participant involved with the 2015 nuclear agreement are permitted to oversee the deal’s implementation, and no travel visas would be granted as a result.
“Despite what you seem to presume, members of the U.S. Congress do not get to dictate the policies of other countries,” the Iranian Foreign Ministry wrote in a letter. “This clearly applies to Iranian visa policies. Bear in mind that as members of the U.S. Congress you are not a global authority.”
Republican Reps. Mike Pompeo, R-Kan. Lee Zelden, R-N.Y., and Frank LoBiondo, R-N.J., attempted to obtain the visas after personally delivering their visa applications to the Iranian Interests Section of the Pakistani Embassy in D.C., yet the Iranian government continued to delay its response until last week.
“In sum, we consider your visa request to have been a publicity stunt and not an appropriate request to visit a sovereign country; and it has, and will continue to be, treated in that spirit,” the letter said in conclusion.
Pompeo said Tuesday that the letter “is entirely divorced from reality.”
“My two congressional colleagues and I followed all the necessary procedures — filling out applications, writing letters, meeting with staff, following up on the status, and even hand-delivering our materials to the Iranian Interests Section — and still the Iranians refuse to reply in a civilized or respectful manner,” Pompeo told the Washington Free Beacon.
Pompeo said he will continue to pursue travel to Iran.
