Russia Accuses US of Blocking UN Access Over Visa Denial

Russia has accused the United States of violating its obligations as host of the United Nations after Washington failed to issue a visa to Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alimov for a Security Council meeting in New York.

Speaking at the council on Tuesday, Russia’s UN ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, said Moscow had expected Alimov, who handles UN-related issues, to represent the country at the session.

“However, despite all of our attempts to persuade the US side to issue a visa to him, that visa was ultimately not granted,” Nebenzia said.

The dispute centres on the 1947 agreement that established the UN headquarters in New York. Under that treaty, the United States is expected to allow foreign diplomats to attend UN functions “without charge and as promptly as possible”.

Nebenzia argued that the decision was not only a breach of Washington’s legal obligations, but also an insult to China, which is holding the Security Council presidency in May.

“We view this not just as a breach by Washington of its obligations under United Nations Headquarters Agreement, according to which access to United Nations needs to be provided for all officials and member states, barring none, but we also view this as an egregious instance of disrespect for the Chinese presidency of the Security Council,” he said.

The visa row lands at an awkward diplomatic moment. Tensions between Washington and Moscow have recently appeared to ease somewhat as US President Donald Trump pushes for an end to the war in Ukraine. Trump has been speaking regularly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, while both leaders have separately travelled to China and met President Xi Jinping in recent weeks.

Russia is not the only country to raise concerns over access to the UN. Earlier this week, Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had cancelled plans to attend Tuesday’s Security Council meeting because of visa issues.

The US has previously imposed restrictions on Iranian officials during UN-related visits. During the September 2025 General Assembly, Washington limited the movement of Iran’s delegation in New York. In 2019, it also delayed then-President Hassan Rouhani’s visa for the General Assembly before eventually allowing him to enter the country.