Iran delegates allowed to attend UN General Assembly in New York – but can’t shop for luxury goods

An ​Iranian ​delegation ⁠will be allowed ⁠to attend ​the UN General Assembly in New York ⁠next week, ​the ⁠State ‌Department ​has announced.

The move comes a day after the US banned Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and other Palestinian leaders from travelling to New York for the gathering of world leaders, saying it was holding the Palestinians to account for “glorifying terrorism”.

“Consistent with our host country obligations, the core delegation from the Iranian regime will be able to attend UN General Assembly High Level Week,” a State Department representative said. “The delegation is smaller than last year.”

Iranian delegates will be banned from shopping for luxury goods and will be under travel restrictions while in the US, the official added. Such measures have been in place for years and other diplomats, including from Russia, have faced restrictions too.

State Department spokesman Tommy 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 said the US would continue to ban Iranian UN mission officials, visiting officials and their dependants from buying wholesale club memberships or luxury goods in the US.

“New York-area retailers: be on guard, don’t become complicit in these violations,” he said on X.

The US is at war with Iran and has designated Tehran a state sponsor of terrorism. The State Department official said members of Iran’s “core delegation” had been granted visas.

A diplomat confirmed to The National that Mr Pezeshkian is expected to attend, as he did last year and in 2024. US outlets reported that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi would also attend.

The UN General Assembly on Thursday voted to allow Mr Abbas to address next week’s gathering of world leaders by video.

The resolution passed with 152 votes in favour, three against and four abstentions. It is the second consecutive year Mr Abbas will address the annual gathering remotely.