Javad Zarif denied travel permission by US

“Foreign Minister Zarif would like to visit a colleague who is in the hospital receiving world class care. Iran has wrongfully detained several US citizens for years, to the pain of their families and friends they cannot freely visit. We have relayed to the Iranian mission that the travel request will be granted if Iran releases a US citizen,” the official said.

CNN has reached out to the Iranian mission for an official comment. Alireza Miryousefi, the mission’s press officer has also tweeted, “Travel!! It is just a few Min walk,” and attached a map locating the proximity of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center’s proximity to the United Nations.

Iranian diplomats have complained about difficulty of getting visas before this week’s UNGA.