Rubio Orders Iranian Delegation to Leave NYC Early After Talks Stall

Secretary of State Marco Rubio directed Iran's foreign minister and his delegation to depart New York City ahead of schedule, according to two U.S. officials. The directive came after diplomatic talks aimed at resolving issues including the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear program failed to yield significant progress.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his team left New York early Tuesday. The delegation had remained in the city after President Masoud Pezeshkian concluded his address at the United Nations General Assembly last week. Araghchi's presence was ostensibly for indirect talks with U.S. officials.

According to sources familiar with the decision, Rubio determined that the Iranian delegation had "overstayed their welcome" following the conclusion of the high-level UN meetings. The decision to order their departure was reportedly made Monday after weekend discussions mediated by Qatari officials produced little headway.

The Iranian UN delegation, however, issued a statement on its official X account denying they were ordered to leave. They asserted that their departure on Monday evening was in accordance with a schedule communicated to the U.S. Department of State on September 17. The delegation further characterized the reports as "baseless and worthless news" propagated by the State Department due to a lack of progress in negotiations.

President Pezeshkian and his delegation were initially granted visas to attend the UN General Assembly, despite ongoing tensions between the United States and Iran. While the President departed New York shortly after his speech, Araghchi and his team continued their stay for further diplomatic engagements.

This development underscores the strained diplomatic relationship between the two nations. The Trump administration had placed severe restrictions on the visas issued to the Iranian delegation. The stalled talks in New York occurred against a backdrop of regional security concerns and broader geopolitical challenges.

The report of Rubio's directive was first published by Axios. The Iranian delegation's departure marks the end of their engagement in New York following the UN General Assembly.