The United States has refused to issue visas for members of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian’s delegation, including his communications team, for this week’s trip to the UN General Assembly, Iranian state media reported Monday.

Pezeshkian will be the highest-ranking Iranian official to enter the United States since the Middle East war began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February.

“In an unprecedented hostile move by the US government, (US President Donald) Trump has denied US visas to certain members of the president’s high-level delegation, including members of his communications team,” state news agency IRNA reported.

The Mehr news agency also carried the story, citing a spokesperson for the Iranian presidency, and added that Pezeshkian will address the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.

The US has authorised the Iranian delegation to travel for the UN General Assembly but will, like last year, put restrictions in place.

Iran’s delegation will not, for instance, be allowed to purchase luxury goods or other items, the State Department said on Thursday.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, part of the delegation to the UN, left Iran on Sunday evening for a stopover in Qatar.

Iran says it has conveyed to the US, via Qatar as mediator, conditions for reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz oil and gas shipping route, which it has choked off since the war began.

The United States, in turn, is imposing a counterblockade of Iranian ports.

AFP

According to Sport, Bernardo Silva is gradually losing his place at Real Madrid, having started only once in the last five La Liga matches.

In the last two La Liga rounds, Bernardo Silva featured for only 8 minutes: he did not play against Elche and came on as a late substitute against Atlético Madrid, providing an assist for Rüdiger’s goal. Meanwhile, Barcelona, who were close to signing him this summer, are leading La Liga and play a style that suits him better.

The 32-year-old Portuguese midfielder can negotiate with any club after his contract with Manchester City expires. Although he wanted to join Barcelona, his wage demands and insistence on being an undisputed starter failed to convince Flick, who could not guarantee him regular playing time given the fierce competition in Barcelona’s midfield.

A few days ago, Deco admitted that Bernardo was a candidate Barcelona considered this summer. The Barcelona sporting director said: “We have our own criteria, and he is not in the position we are looking for. Moreover, there are economic issues and playing time involved; he wants to play. If his opinion differs from ours, there’s nothing we can do.”

Bernardo Silva also attracted attention from Atlético Madrid, but ultimately chose to join Real Madrid. He started in the first two LaLiga matches against Espanyol and Real Sociedad, but his playing time significantly decreased before the international break, starting only one of the last five league matches—Real Madrid’s 4-1 victory over Rayo Vallecano. In the Champions League, he was unavailable due to suspension against Inter Milan.

Cole Palmer is set to withdraw from the England squad, with Marcus Rashford and Kobbie Mainoo also doubts to join up with Thomas Tuchel‘s camp.

Palmer, who was recalled by Tuchel last week after he was left out of England’s squad for the World Cup, is reportedly dealing with a small injury, though he completed Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat to Brentford on Friday night.

The 24-year-old has featured in all five of Chelsea’s Premier League matches this term but struggled with injuries in a disrupted campaign last season, recently saying during a Twitch stream that he “had one leg for 10 months”.

Manchester United manager Michael Carrick confirmed Rashford picked up an “issue” when during the 1-1 draw at Fulham on Sunday, with the forward substituted while appearing to be struggling with his hip – which was a persistent issue over the summer.

Midfielder Mainoo, who travelled to this summer’s World Cup but did not play a single minute of the tournament under Tuchel, was also substituted during the closing stages of the draw at Craven Cottage.

England will play four matches over the newly expanded three-week international break, kicking off against World Cup winners Spain at Wembley on Saturday 26 September. That is followed by trips to Czech Republic and Croatia, before concluding the set of Nations League games against the Czech Republic at Wembley on Tuesday 6 October.