Changes to US visa waiver program contradict nuke deal: Iran

Citizens of 38 countries who can travel to the US without visas, will have to obtain a visa if they have traveled to Iran, Iraq, Syria and Sudan in the past 5 years

Iran's deputy foreign minister says changes to a US visa waiver program that now impose travel restrictions on those who visit Iran contradict the landmark nuclear agreement between Tehran and world powers.

The US recently tightened security requirements of its visa waiver program, which allows citizens of 38 countries to travel to the US without visas.

Now, people from those countries who have traveled to Iran, Iraq, Syria and Sudan in the past five years must obtain visas to enter the US.

Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told state TV late today that the nuclear deal bars policies intended to adversely affect normalization of trade and economic relations with Iran.

Araghchi said the new visa requirement would negatively affect economic, cultural, scientific and tourism relations with Iran.