UNITED NATIONS: A committee of the UN General Assembly has decided not to take any action on the US refusal to grant a visa to Iran’s ambassador designate to the United Nations after hearing both sides.

The United States maintained that it would not grant a visa to Hamid Abutalebi because of his connection to the 1979-1981 Tehran hostage crises when Iranian students seized the US Embassy and held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days. Abutalebi has said he acted only as a translator.

Nicholas Emiliou, ambassador of Cyprus to the UN, who heads the 19-member host committee told reporters, “ Iran and United States presented their views,” and there was a discussion.. with the participation of seven other delegations and the committee decided to remain seized with the other issues.”

According to diplomats who attended the meeting, Belarus, Cuba and North Korea and Ecuador spoke in support of Iran’s complaint.

The United States said it took seriously the responsibility of hosting the United Nations but said it had concerns about Abutalebi’s role in the hostage crisis.

In a letter to the UN committee last week Iran described the US decision as a dangerous precedent that could harm international diplomacy.

It is not clear whether Iran plans to ask the committee to take action on the issue. The committee could ask UN lawyers to provide an opinion on it.

Under a 1947 “headquarters agreement,” the United States is generally required to allow access to the United Nations for foreign diplomats.

Washington has said it can deny visas for “security, terrorism, and foreign policy” reasons.