by WorldTribune Staff, June 8, 2016
Three Republican congressmen who voted against Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers have been denied visas by Teheran.
Calling their request to monitor the nuclear deal a “publicity stunt,” Iran on June 7 said it would not grant visas to Reps. Frank LoBiondo of New Jersey, Mike Pompeo of Kansas and Lee Zeldin of New York.
All three voted against the nuclear accord in the House. The congressmen say they asked for visas in February to observe Iran’s parliamentary elections, see “American hostages” and visit three nuclear facilities.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry, in a letter released on June 7, said the lawmakers’ request was refused due to “the completely inappropriate way you have demanded to visit Iran and interfere in what is of no relevance to (your) official functions. Despite what you seem to presume, (members) of the U.S. Congress do not get to dictate the policies of other countries.”
LoBiondo responded by saying it was “deeply disappointing, though not surprising” that Iran denied “our legitimate request with insults and deflections.”