US grants Iranian delegation visas for UN General Assembly

State Department bars Iranian officials from luxury shopping

The war between the United States and Iran is now in its seventh month with no resolution in sight, as the State Department confirmed Thursday that it has granted visas to Iranian officials to attend the UN General Assembly in New York next week.

The BBC reported that the core delegation permitted to attend includes Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The State Department said the delegation permitted this year is smaller than last year’s.

A State Department spokesman told the BBC: “Consistent with our host country obligations, the core delegation from the Iranian regime will be able to attend UN General Assembly High Level Week.” The spokesman added: “The delegation will be under travel restrictions and will face prohibitions on the purchase of luxury and other goods per our policy. The delegation is smaller than last year.”

The 81st session of the UN General Assembly is already underway. The General Debate, the centerpiece of the annual event, is scheduled to begin on Tuesday. Tuesday’s speakers are expected to include US President Donald Trump, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, and French President Emmanuel Macron. Wednesday’s program is expected to feature the leaders of Ukraine, Syria, and Iran.

State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott said the US would prevent the diplomats from “going on shopping sprees” while Iranian citizens deal with water and electricity shortages, “brutal repression,” and “soaring inflation.” In a post on X, Pigott said the US would not let “the Iranian regime’s elites exploit UNGA for a luxury retail splurge paid for by the Iranian people’s suffering, all while the regime funnels Iran’s wealth to support its terrorist proxies.” He warned New York shops to “be on guard” against selling goods to the delegation, though he did not indicate whether the US was aware of any specific plans by the delegation to make luxury purchases.

The restrictions echo measures imposed last year, when Iranian diplomats were barred from shopping at wholesale stores like Costco and required to seek US permission before purchasing items including jewellery, alcohol, and cars.

Since the war began on February 28, Iran has repeatedly attacked US bases and allied states in the Gulf, as well as Israel. The conflict has driven up global energy prices and expanded into neighboring countries. The BBC reported that UN experts have said there are grounds to believe the US committed war crimes in its strikes on Iran, and cited photographs showing widespread damage at US sites from Iranian attacks.

Public and political pressure has mounted on the White House to find an end to the conflict.

Separately, the BBC reported that the US has denied a visa to Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian delegation for the second consecutive year. The White House, which does not recognize the legitimacy of the Palestinian delegation, denied the visas.