Iran has named a member of the radical student group that seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran and held Americans hostage for more than a year to be its next ambassador to the United Nations . Hamid Aboutalebi , was a member of the Muslim Students Following the Imam 's Line , the group of militants who seized the U.S. embassy on November 4 , 1979 , holding 52 Americans hostage for 444 days . A U.S. official said the State Department has not yet responded to Aboutalebi 's visa application to represent Iran at the United Nations . Aboutalebi is a veteran diplomat who has served as Iran 's ambassador to Australia , Belgium , Italy , and the European Union . He has also held high-profile posts in the Iranian Foreign Ministry . He currently works in the political affairs office of President Hassan Rouhani and is believed to be close to the Iranian leader , who is widely viewed as a moderate with a reformist agenda . But the choice of Aboutalebi could complicate President Barack Obama 's efforts to re-engage with Tehran after the election of Rouhani and negotiate a comprehensive agreement to curb Iran 's nuclear program with five other world powers . With no formal relations between the United States and Iran , the Iranian mission to the United Nations is Tehran 's only diplomatic operation in the United States and has played a role in facilitating unofficial exchanges of messages between the two nations . In an interview with Iranian media , Aboutalebi said he served as translator and negotiator , but denied taking part in the initial occupation of the embassy . State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf declined to comment if the United States was aware that Aboutalebi was a member of the group which seized the embassy . She said the United States has a process to review all visa applications , but the applications themselves remained confidential . `` Anyone can submit a visa application , and it will be evaluated as we do all visa applications , in accordance with our procedures , '' she said . `` We do n't speculate on what the outcome might be . '' But the controversy , first reported this weekend by Bloomberg , could spark demands from Congress to deny Aboutalebi 's visa . That would be an unusual step given the United States is obligated to grant entry visas to representatives of U.N. member-states in accordance with a 1947 agreement signed with the world body . Last year , Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir decided not to attend the U.N. General Assembly when the State Department failed to respond to his visa application . The International Criminal Court has issued warrants for Bashir 's arrest and referral for trial in the Hague for crimes against humanity . Although the United States is not a party to the court , the ICC has asked the United States to surrender him if he enters American territory . Even if the United State granted Aboutalebi a visa , he would not be free to move about the United States . As a representative of a country listed as a State Sponsor of Terrorism by the State Department , Aboutalebi would be confined to a radius of 25 miles from Manhattan , just as diplomats from North Korea and Syria are . Still , former American hostage Barry Rosen said it would be a `` disgrace '' if Washington gave a visa to Aboutalebi and called on the Obama administration to deny his application . `` It may be a precedent but if the President and the Congress do n't condemn this act by the Islamic Republic , then our captivity and suffering for 444 days at the hands of Iran was for nothing , '' he said in a statement . `` He can never set foot on American soil . ''
Member of group who seized Americans hostages in 1979 now a diplomat . Barry Rosen named as Manhattan 's next ambassador to the United Nations . the United Nations has not responded to his visa application . He 's a veteran diplomat who has served in posts in Obama .