The United States rejected Iran's choice for ambassador, while Iran has dismissed the decision and is looking for the United Nations to settle the dispute.
Earlier in the week, it was announced that Iran selected Hamid Aboutalebi to be the ambassador to the UN, which the U.S. promptly rejected and passed a ban on letting him into the country.
He was deemed "not viable" because of his involvement in the late 1970s takeover of a U.S. embassy in Iran. Aboutalebi has long claimed he was only there in the capacity of a negotiator and translator, with a former member of the student group that took the embassy agreeing he wasn't really involved.
Despite, the U.S grievances over the choice, Tehran has made it clear it plans to move forward with Aboutalebi, reports Reuters. "We have no replacement for Mr. Aboutalebi and we will pursue the matter via legal mechanisms envisioned at the United Nations," senior Foreign Ministry official, Abbas Araghchi, was quoted by IRNA news agency as saying.
Araghchi added that the UN should force the U.S. to abide by "international commitments."
Aboutalebi has been seen as a moderate political figure in recent years as he has sided with Iran's president on looking to improve Western ties. He "is one of the most capable, experience and rational diplomats in Iran," Mohammad Javad Zarif, foreign minister, informed IRNA.