MOSCOW, April 16. /ITAR-TASS/. The Russian Foreign Ministry has criticized the United States for refusing to issue an entry visa to Iran’s new ambassador to the United Nations and an attempt to exert pressure on a sovereign country.

“The recent decision of the US authorities to deny an entry visa to Mr. Hamid Aboutaleb, a new Permanent Representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations, has caused our bewilderment,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.

“The United States has violated its commitment of a country housing the United Nations headquarters in its territory. Therefore, it is impossible to regard this step otherwise than an instrument of Washington’s political pressure on a UN member state,” the Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized.