The United States has denied visas to some members of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s delegation for this week’s United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Iranian state media reported on Monday that members of Pezeshkian’s communications team were among those denied entry visas. The Iranian president is expected to address the General Assembly on Wednesday.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei criticised the decision, accusing the US administration of restricting access to information.

He linked the development to the Trump administration’s recent decision to bar CNN, MS NOW and Politico from the White House, saying the two developments reflected restrictions on journalists’ access to information.

Pezeshkian is expected to be the highest-ranking Iranian official to visit the United States since the Middle East war began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February.

The US had previously authorised Iran’s core delegation, including Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, to attend the General Assembly. Washington said the delegation would be smaller than last year and would face travel restrictions and restrictions on purchasing luxury and other goods.

Araghchi left Iran on Sunday for a stopover in Qatar before travelling to New York for the UN meetings.

The visa restrictions come amid continuing tensions between Washington and Tehran, with Iran and the United States involved in an ongoing conflict and diplomatic efforts concerning the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has said it conveyed conditions to the US, through Qatar as a mediator, for reopening the strategic oil and gas shipping route, while Washington has imposed a counterblockade of Iranian ports.

The development also follows the US decision to deny a visa to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas for this year’s General Assembly. The UN General Assembly subsequently approved a resolution allowing Abbas to address the gathering by video.