This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-26942899
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| US Senate bill would bar Iranian envoy Hamid Aboutalebi | US Senate bill would bar Iranian envoy Hamid Aboutalebi |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| The US Senate has passed a bill that would bar a one-time Iranian revolutionary appointed ambassador to the UN from entering the country. | |
| The chamber voted unanimously on Monday to bar Hamid Aboutalebi, who was part of the Muslim student group that seized the US embassy in Tehran in 1979. | The chamber voted unanimously on Monday to bar Hamid Aboutalebi, who was part of the Muslim student group that seized the US embassy in Tehran in 1979. |
| The 52 Americans were held for 444 days during the crisis. | The 52 Americans were held for 444 days during the crisis. |
| The Obama administration has previously called Mr Aboutalebi's appointment "extremely troubling". | The Obama administration has previously called Mr Aboutalebi's appointment "extremely troubling". |
| The House of Representatives is also expected to pass the measure barring him from entering the US. It would then require President Barack Obama's signature to become law. | The House of Representatives is also expected to pass the measure barring him from entering the US. It would then require President Barack Obama's signature to become law. |
| The Iranian foreign ministry is said to be in talks with US officials following President Hassan Rouhani's nomination of Mr Aboutalebi to the UN post. | The Iranian foreign ministry is said to be in talks with US officials following President Hassan Rouhani's nomination of Mr Aboutalebi to the UN post. |
| "We think the process is running its diplomatic course and until we receive a formal response from official channels, we do not consider the matter finished," ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham told US media. | "We think the process is running its diplomatic course and until we receive a formal response from official channels, we do not consider the matter finished," ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham told US media. |
| Senator Ted Cruz, the Texas Republican who introduced the legislation in the US Senate, said his chamber "is not going to just ignore this most recent insult". | Senator Ted Cruz, the Texas Republican who introduced the legislation in the US Senate, said his chamber "is not going to just ignore this most recent insult". |
| "This nomination is part of Iran's clear and consistent pattern of virulent anti-Americanism that has defined their foreign policy since 1979," he said. | "This nomination is part of Iran's clear and consistent pattern of virulent anti-Americanism that has defined their foreign policy since 1979," he said. |
| 'Simply wrong' | 'Simply wrong' |
| Sources familiar with Mr Aboutalebi tell the BBC that he is one of the closest diplomats to Mr Rouhani. | Sources familiar with Mr Aboutalebi tell the BBC that he is one of the closest diplomats to Mr Rouhani. |
| In an interview with an Iranian news site, Mr Aboutalebi said he was not part of the group that took over US embassy and was only later asked to translate for the students. | In an interview with an Iranian news site, Mr Aboutalebi said he was not part of the group that took over US embassy and was only later asked to translate for the students. |
| BBC Persian's Bahman Kalbasi says Ebrahim Asgharzadeh, a known member of the core group of hostage-takers, corroborated Mr Aboutalebi's account in an interview. | |
| "Occupying the embassy was the idea of five people, then expanded to 15," Mr Asgharzadeh said. | |
| "After the embassy takeover, we invited close to 150 to 200 students to help us with different tasks of running the place. Some of the students would only commit to a few hours. | "After the embassy takeover, we invited close to 150 to 200 students to help us with different tasks of running the place. Some of the students would only commit to a few hours. |
| "I don't remember Mr Aboutalebi from those days but if he was, must have been one of those guys who was asked to help translate for reporter or a delegation. Calling him a hostage-taker is simply wrong." | "I don't remember Mr Aboutalebi from those days but if he was, must have been one of those guys who was asked to help translate for reporter or a delegation. Calling him a hostage-taker is simply wrong." |
| The son of another member of the group of five students who took over the embassy also told the BBC: "The names of the first five and the 10 that joined to execute the takeover are public and there is no doubt that Mr Aboutalebi was not in any way a major player in planning or execution of the hostage taking of US embassy staff in Tehran." | The son of another member of the group of five students who took over the embassy also told the BBC: "The names of the first five and the 10 that joined to execute the takeover are public and there is no doubt that Mr Aboutalebi was not in any way a major player in planning or execution of the hostage taking of US embassy staff in Tehran." |