The US Secretary of State reportedly ordered the immediate departure of the Iranian delegation from New York after diplomatic talks ended without progress. Iran denies it was an expulsion.
New York—US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered the
Iranian delegation participating in the United Nations General Assembly to
leave New York after indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran
reached a stalemate.
The information was initially revealed by Axios, which cited
a US official and a second source familiar with the situation. Among the
members of the delegation was Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who was
in New York to participate in the talks.
According to the US version, the decision came after
diplomatic efforts, mediated by Qatar, failed to bridge the gap between the
positions of Washington and Tehran. A US official described the move as a sign
that the Iranian delegation had “overstayed its welcome” after the General
Assembly concluded.
The order was reportedly communicated to the Iranian mission
to the United Nations on Monday night. Hours later, Araghchi and the other
members of the delegation went to the airport and departed New York for Doha
early Tuesday morning.
The decision represents a new episode of tension between the
two governments, at a time when talks were seeking to make progress on issues
related to the US-Iran conflict, the Strait of Hormuz, and the Iranian nuclear
program.
Iran denies being expelled.