The US Senate on Monday voted to deny entry of Hamid Aboutalebi, Iran's proposed new ambassador to the United Nations, for his alleged involvement in holding 52 Americans hostage in 1979.

The chamber passed by a voice vote the legislation introduced by Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz, who called Aboutalebi a member of a militant group that seized the US embassy in Tehran on Nov. 4, 1979 and held 52 Americans hostage for 444 days.

Cruz said it was "deliberately insulting and contemptuous" for the Iranian leadership to nominate Aboutalebi, a 56-year-old veteran diplomat who had served as Iran's ambassador to Australia, the European Union, Belgium and Italy.

Republican congressman Doug Lamborn has introduced a similar measure in the House of Representatives. If passed by both chambers, the bill will be sent to President Barack Obama for his signature into law.

Aboutalebi has reportedly applied for a US visa, and US State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf said last week the nomination was "extremely troubling" and Washington had raised its "serious concerns" with the Iranian government.

Harf said that as host nation of the UN, except for "in limited exceptions," the United States was generally obligated to admit the chosen representatives of member states into the US for the purpose of representing their country at the world body.

The US, along with Britain, China, France, Russia and Germany, is engaging in talks with Iran with a view to reaching a comprehensive agreement over the Islamic republic's controversial nuclear program following a first-step deal in November.