Havana, April 23 (RHC) – Cuba demands respect for international law in the face of hurdles that the United States could pose against the work of the UN by denying a visa to the new Iranian ambassador appointed to the United Nations.

“Hindering the normal performance of diplomatic missions accredited at the United Nations is unacceptable,” said the legal councilor of the Cuban mission at the United Nations, Tanieris Diegues, at a meeting of the UN Committee on Relations with the Host Country, where Iran formally protested

On Friday, President Obama signed legislation that effectively bars Hamid Aboutalebi from getting a US visa because of his role during the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis.

“The event affects the participation of the Iranian delegation and its performance at the United Nations,” said the Cuban diplomat, who noted that Cuba, Belarus, Ecuador, the Democratic Republic of Korea and Russia expressed concern about the US decision.

Only the US representative, Rosemary DiCarlo, backed the measure taken by the White House alleging that Aboutalebi participated in the storming of the US embassy in Tehran in 1979.

The Iranian Charge d'Affaires, Gholamhossein Dehghani, urged Washington to meet its obligations as host country of the United Nations and said that the US stance undermines the work of the world organization and multilateralism.

According to Iranian officials, the US move has violated the UN headquarters agreement.

Under the 1947 Headquarters Agreement, the United States, as the host country of the UN, is required to allow foreign diplomats access to the world body.