Lingering Iranian Diplomats In New York 'Kicked Out' By Rubio

The 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly took place September 22–29 in New York City, with the Iranian delegation being allowed into the country (even as the delegation of the Palestinian Authority was blocked).

President Masoud Pezeshkian addressed the UNGA without any problems, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi engaged in talks with the US on the sidelines and via mediators. Both top officials exited the country, after safety concerns were voiced in Iranian outlets - given the US is engaged in an active war with the Islamic Republic.

But apparently a couple of Iranian diplomats that traveled with the delegation lingered behind and are now being "kicked out" - according to Axios reporting on Sunday.

A US official described to the outlet the the Iranian officials stayed in New York for multiple days after the Trump administration ordered the Iranian delegation out of the country.

"Secretary Rubio means business. Two more members of the Iranian delegation were found still in New York long after the U.N. General Assembly had passed. They have now been kicked out of the country," a US official said.

But the two have now departed, with one having left Friday and the other Saturday morning, the US official detailed.

Iran's Foreign Ministry has disputed the account, with FM Araghchi having stated on X, "All Iranian diplomats who attended UNGA, except one who departed earlier, left as scheduled."

Araghchi took the opportunity to blast the United States as not upholding its diplomatic obligations as a host nation for UN headquarters.

"Taking pride in fake diplomat ‘expulsion’ is inappropriate for the head of any diplomatic corps,” he had said Saturday. "It oozes of desperation and defeat, and is inconsistent with UN host nation obligations."

Many nations would likely be more comfortable is UN headquarters were based in Europe, or some other more neutral region.

Washington not infrequently uses its power to grant or deny access to UN headquarters in New York as leverage over countries it deems 'rogue' actors. For example, it regularly does this with Palestinian representation.