WASHINGTON — The United States informed Iran Tuesday that sending a participant in the 1979 hostage crisis as its representative to the United Nations won’t fly.
In his first comments on the brewing controversy, White House press secretary Jay Carney called Iran’s UN pick “extremely troubling” — a day after the Senate passed legislation that would block Hamid Aboutalebi (inset) from entering the United States.
Iran’s decision to send him to the UN has been denounced by lawmakers and comes as the Obama administration is scheduled to resume talks on Iran’s nuclear program on Wednesday.
Aboutalebi was involved with the student group that seized the US embassy in Tehran, although Iran is downplaying his role in the hostage crisis, where 52 Americans were held for 444 days.
Aboutalebi is a close adviser to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, who has opened lines of communication with Washington, which has had no formal diplomatic relations with Tehran since the hostage crisis.
The Senate turned up the heat Monday night when it passed by voice vote a bill backed by Sens. Charles Schumer (D-NY) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) aimed at keeping out Aboutalebi.
The bill would deny admission to any UN representative who has spied on the United States, “poses a threat to United States national security interests, or has been found to have been engaged in a terrorist activity against the United States.”
“The nomination is extremely troubling. The US government has informed the government of Iran that this potential selection is not viable,” said Carney.
Iran’s foreign ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham claimed Aboutalebi is “qualified for the position” and said he had “a good, effective and positive performance” during his past postings.
“Until we receive a formal response from official channels, we do not consider the matter finished,” Afkham continued, noting that Aboutalebi has served in Brussels and other world capitals.
The administration isn’t saying whether President Obama would sign the bill if it passes the House or of it or would grant a visa to Aboutalebi if Iran insisted.
“Until the legislation, it was unclear whether they could keep him out. The legislation makes it crystal clear they can,” Schumer told The Post.