Iran Condemns U.S. Restrictions at UN General Assembly
Iran has condemned U.S. restrictions on its diplomats attending the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, labeling the actions as efforts to obstruct Tehran’s participation in multilateral diplomacy, reports 24brussels.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei expressed that these measures constitute “systematic harassment” that hindered Iranian delegates from participating in various events outside the limited areas of access. He asserted that the primary goal of the U.S. administration’s increasing restrictions is to disrupt Iran’s diplomatic endeavors within the United Nations.
The U.S. State Department previously acknowledged that the curbs are part of its strategy to maintain “maximum pressure” on Tehran, limiting the Iranian delegation’s access to specific stores and venues, including wholesale clubs and luxury outlets.
Baghaei characterized these measures as “cheap restrictions” that violate U.S. obligations under the UN Headquarters Agreement, affecting delegates’ basic needs, including grocery shopping. As the host of the UN headquarters, Washington is generally expected to allow officials from all member states and observer entities, although it has enacted political limits at times.
This incident follows the revocation of visas for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and around 80 Palestinian officials last month, a decision that received support from Israel. As a result, Abbas was barred from attending the assembly, though the United Nations authorized him to deliver remarks through a pre-recorded video shown in the General Assembly Hall.
