BBC journalist Rana Rahimpour stopped from flying to US

A BBC journalist with dual British-Iranian
nationality has been prevented from flying to the
US after falling foul of changes to visa rules.
Rana Rahimpour was told by US authorities she
could not travel under a visa waiver scheme.
Under new laws, dual citizens from several
nationalities must instead apply for a visa at the
US embassy.
But Ms Rahimpour said advice from the embassy
on whether the rules had been implemented was
unclear.
The UK foreign office website says the rules come
in on 1 April, while the US State Department
website says the authorities have "begun the
process of implementing changes" to the waiver
scheme.
It was only after contacting the agency
overseeing the waiver while at the airport, that
Ms Rahimpour - a presenter at the BBC's Persian
service - was told her nationality excluded her
from travelling.
Two of her cousins were also prevented from
flying. They had all been due to travel on the
flight from Heathrow to a family birthday in the
US.
Ms Rahimpour described the new rules as "very
unfair", pointing out they restrict Iranians who
have gained their nationality through marriage or
parentage.
She tweeted: "My fully #British daughter can't
attend her #American cousin's bday cos her mum
was born in #Iran."
The new rules, which also affect Iraqi, Syrian and
Sudanese dual citizens, have sparked anger.
They were enacted in the wake of raised security
concerns following the Paris attacks, but a joint
statement from European ambassadors warned of
dual nationals being "disproportionately and
unfairly affected".