Iran’s foreign minister has said he will miss a key meeting on Gaza at UN headquarters in New York, blaming the late delivery of US visas for his delegation, AFP reports.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian was due in New York to attend a UN Security Council meeting on the Gaza crisis.

“The Americans issued visas for me and all my companions at 1am (2130 GMT),” Amir-Abdollahian said after a cabinet meeting.

The delay meant it was “not possible” for the Iranian delegation to attend the meeting, which is due to begin at 1430 GMT, he added.

Amir-Abdollahian said that despite his absence, Iran would exert “all efforts” for an extension to a humanitarian truce deal in Gaza.