Letter to Mohammad Zarif, Foreign Minister of Iran - Response on their Iranian Visa Applications

Letter

Foreign Minister Zarif,

On February 4th, we traveled to the Iranian Interests Section in Washington, D.C. to hand deliver our visa applications for travel to Iran. We also submitted a letter outlining our aims, which include visits with American hostages, briefings on the ten U.S. sailors that were held, trips to three nuclear sites, and information on Iran's recent missile tests.

When we submitted our applications, the Deputy Director of the Interests Section, Abolfazl Mehrabadi, informed us that we would receive a reply, though your staff missed their own self-imposed deadline for responding. We have followed up several times with them, but to no avail. It has now been more than two months since we applied, and we would appreciate a decision on our application. If you reject our visa applications, please provide an explanation.

In our letter, we also requested to observe your country's February elections, but due to your delay, we were denied this opportunity. With your claims that many moderates were elected, we imagine that there should be no problems now with our trip. However, our straightforward applications continue to be met with ridicule and delay from many Iranian leaders.

As the Governor of the Central Bank of Iran, Valiollah Sief, visits Washington, D.C. this week, it is clear the American government is allowing Iranian leaders to visit the United States. Further, American and international business delegations are traveling to Iran and have obviously received visas. We trust the same courtesy will be extended to American leaders.

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