US Orders Iranian Delegation to Depart NYC Ahead of Schedule

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has ordered Iran’s foreign minister and his delegation to the United Nations General Assembly to leave New York earlier than they had planned, two U.S. officials said.

The Trump administration had granted visas, with significant restrictions, to Iran's president and foreign minister and their delegations to attend the annual meeting of world leaders, despite ongoing hostilities between the two nations.

While President Masoud Pezeshkian departed New York after speaking at the United Nations last week, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi remained in the city. His continued presence was ostensibly for indirect talks with the U.S. aimed at resolving issues related to the Strait of Hormuz, ending the current conflict, and resuming negotiations concerning Iran's nuclear program. Some accounts indicated Araghchi had planned to stay in New York until Wednesday.

Following limited progress in meetings held over the weekend involving Iranian and Qatari mediators, Rubio determined that the Iranians had "overstayed their welcome." According to the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss an internal administration process, Rubio informed the Iranian delegation on Monday that Araghchi and his team needed to depart New York immediately. The officials noted that since the high-level meetings at the UN had concluded, the delegation should leave.

Araghchi and his team left New York early Tuesday. The decision was first reported by Axios.