US Tells Iran It’s UN Envoy Pick Is ‘Not Viable’
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iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The White House has rejected Iran’s pick for its new U.N. envoy in New York because of his alleged participation in the 1979 Tehran hostage crisis.
Spokesman Jay Carney Tuesday said selection of the Iranian diplomat — Hamid Abutalebi — is “not viable.” On Monday, the Senate voted to block his entry to the U.S.
“We share the Senate’s concerns regarding this case and find the potential nomination extremely troubling. The U.S. government has informed the government of Iran that this potential selection is not viable,” spokesman Jay Carney said Tuesday. “The legislation passed by the Senate underscores just how troubling this potential nomination would be.”
Iran’s foreign ministry said earlier Tuesday that it is still awaiting Washington’s formal response on the selection of Abutalebi to assume a post at the U.N.
Carney, however, suggested that Abutalebi has not yet been formally nominated, signaling that Iran could and should pick someone else.
“It’s a potential selection, as I understand it, that has not been formally made. We’ve informed the government that that selection is not viable,” he said.
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