Updated

For the second consecutive year, the US State Department has denied visas to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and other Palestinian officials, barring them from attending the UN General Assembly in New York, citing accusations that Palestinian officials have failed to meet peace-process commitments. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said he 'deeply regrets' the decision. The move follows a similar visa denial last year and comes as the US has separately approved visas for Iranian officials to attend the same UN gathering, drawing criticism over perceived double standards.