The White House has told Iran its potential selection of diplomat Hamid Abutalebi as its new UN envoy is not "viable."
White House spokesman Jay Carney made the comments on April 8, a day after the Senate unanimously approved a bill that would deny entry into the United States to Abutalebi.
Abutalebi is accused of taking part in the 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover in Tehran and the hostage-taking of 52 Americans there for 444 days. He denies playing any role in the embassy seizure, saying he only served as a translator to the hostage-takers.
Carney described Abutalebi's selection as "extremely troubling" and said that the White House shares the Senate's concerns.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on April 8 that Tehran considers Abutalebi to be suitable for the job.
White House spokesman Jay Carney made the comments on April 8, a day after the Senate unanimously approved a bill that would deny entry into the United States to Abutalebi.
Abutalebi is accused of taking part in the 1979 U.S. Embassy takeover in Tehran and the hostage-taking of 52 Americans there for 444 days. He denies playing any role in the embassy seizure, saying he only served as a translator to the hostage-takers.
Carney described Abutalebi's selection as "extremely troubling" and said that the White House shares the Senate's concerns.
Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on April 8 that Tehran considers Abutalebi to be suitable for the job.
!["You whose slogan is negotiation, expect [to end up] in Farah's swimming pool," the sign, widely shared on social media, said.](https://gdb.rferl.org/AFDC886E-7E07-4F39-ADE4-E05FCF9DC86A_cx0_cy9_cw0_w100_r1.jpg)
!["You whose slogan is negotiation, expect [to end up] in Farah's swimming pool," the sign, widely shared on social media, said.](https://gdb.rferl.org/AFDC886E-7E07-4F39-ADE4-E05FCF9DC86A_cx0_cy9_cw0_w33_r1.jpg)
