ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is set to travel to the US in the coming days to attend a UN Security Council meeting, though the trip remains uncertain due to delays in visa approval, with Tehran saying other priorities could emerge by the time the visa is issued.

A UN Security Council meeting in New York, convened at China’s initiative as the council’s rotating president, is expected to take place “in the middle of next week,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told state broadcaster IRIB, adding that Iran has been invited to participate.

“Preparations have been underway for some time to participate in this meeting. If the work is done and no other priority arises, Dr. Araghchi will participate," he added. 

“This trip to New York may take place, but it is also possible that it may not take place,” Baghei stressed. 

He described the decisions to attend as “not yet certain,” due to what he describes as “a visa must be obtained at a time that we may have other priorities,” shedding light on visa-related issues facing Iranian diplomats.

“But in any case, preparations are underway.”

In January, the US State Department revoked immigration privileges for families and relatives of Iranian officials in response to the regime’s “brutal oppression.”

In September, it also barred Iran’s UN delegation from visiting luxury shops and limited their travel to strictly necessary areas while in New York, under Washington’s additional restrictions under its “maximum pressure” policy. 

The move was condemned by Tehran. 

Baghei further described the agenda of the meeting as “strengthening security and peace at the international level,” based on the international body’s principles. 

Regarding the ongoing shaky peace talks, Baghei noted that the exchange of messages between Washington and Tehran continues through Pakistani mediation.

Tehran’s main focus is "on ending the war on all fronts (including Lebanon), releasing frozen assets, and stopping harassing actions and ‘maritime piracy’ against Iranian shipping."

Iran has a "strong and reasonable suspicion" of the US, Baghei added, citing previous talks and the outbreak of war, though noting that Iran is pursuing negotiations "with seriousness and good faith."

Regarding US President Donald Trump’s recent renewed threat of attack against Iran, Baghei said that “such pressures will never work.”

“Using the language of ‘ultimatums and deadlines’ against the Islamic Republic of Iran is ridiculous,” he added. 

On Monday, Trump said that he was postponing a planned attack on Iran scheduled for the next day at the request of Gulf leaders, and added that ongoing negotiations could lead to a deal that involves “NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS FOR IRAN!”

The president on Wednesday said that the US is dealing with "some very good people" on the Iranian side of negotiations, calling them "far more reasonable" than officials killed during the military campaign.

The ceasefire was meant to halt hostilities while the two warring sides attempted to reach an agreement. The prospect of a permanent end to the conflict has been rocky, however.