Zarif says Pompeo trying to delay visas for Iran U.N. delegation - tweet

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran's foreign minister said on Thursday that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was trying to delay issuing visas for the Iranian delegation to the upcoming United Nations General Assembly.

"@SecPompeo tries to dodge US obligation to issue visas for UN delegates by resorting to self-arrogated designations," Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted. He did no clarify whether the delay may be linked to the United States' blacklisting of Zarif at the end of July.

"A history lesson, perhaps, for my novice counterpart: Nelson Mandela was on U.S. Terrorist Watch List until 2008; 15 years after receiving Nobel Peace Prize," Zarif tweeted.

(Reporting by Dubai newsroom; Editing by Raissa Kasolowsky)