The U.S. State Department has restricted the movements of Iran's delegation to the United Nations headquarters in Manhattan, limiting their access to official proceedings while banning visits to major retailers. President Donald Trump is scheduled to address the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian set to speak on Wednesday. Former White House domestic policy advisor Theo Wold described the upcoming schedule as a "dramatic" diplomatic moment, noting that Tehran's delegation will be effectively "captive" under the new U.S. restrictions.
The restrictions come as the United States weighs renewed strikes on Iran amid a conflict that has lasted nearly seven months. Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said Tehran has established seven prerequisites for negotiations with Washington. Separately, Iranian officials cautioned on Sunday that they possess intelligence indicating the United States and its allies are preparing a new major attack.
While the U.S. approved visas for Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi earlier this week, the State Department has imposed strict limits on the delegation's activities in New York. Under a 1947 agreement, the United States must facilitate the entry of foreign representatives traveling to U.N. headquarters, but it is not obligated to provide unrestricted access beyond diplomatic responsibilities. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott stated that the restrictions prevent Iranian officials from engaging in personal shopping sprees in New York while ordinary Iranians face repression and economic hardship.
Wold clarified that the delegation will be confined to their accommodation and the U.N. headquarters in Manhattan. The State Department specifically instructed big-box retailers such as Costco, Sam's Club, and Walmart not to conduct business with Iranian officials and to notify Washington if any contact occurs. Wold argued that these measures prevent Iranian diplomats from using their presence to purchase household appliances or luxury goods.
Iranian state media reported that Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said New York held "absolutely no charm" for the delegation and accused the U.S. of using every tool to block their participation. Baghaei asserted that Iran's attendance is a legal right rather than a favor granted by Washington.
Despite the hostility, Wold said the U.N. General Assembly provides an opportunity for closed-door discussions between the U.S. and Iran to define a cessation of hostilities. Trump is also planned to hold meetings with leaders from the Gulf Cooperation Council to discuss regional security and the Strait of Hormuz.