Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has left Tehran for New York to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. He departed for the United States on Tuesday (September 22).

Iran’s military formally bid him farewell at the airport before his departure.

Pezeshkian’s visit will last five days. During his trip, he is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly and hold meetings with several heads of state and government, according to Habibollah Abbasi, director general of the Iranian president’s public relations office.

Meanwhile, although Pezeshkian was granted a US visa, several members of his media team were reportedly denied visas. Tehran has described the move as hostile behavior.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is also attending the UN General Assembly. He has already arrived in New York.

Pezeshkian’s visit comes amid continuing military confrontation and diplomatic tensions between Iran and the United States. On February 28, the United States and Israel launched military strikes against Iran, prompting Iranian retaliatory attacks.

Disagreements over the strategic Strait of Hormuz are also continuing between the two countries. An Iranian official said on Tuesday that Tehran is prepared to resume shipping through the strait if the United States eases military pressure and lifts its blockade of Iranian ports.

The high-level general debate of the UN General Assembly began in New York on Tuesday. Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva addressed the session first, followed by US President Donald Trump.

The Iran-US conflict, the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and regional security are expected to feature prominently during Pezeshkian’s UN visit.