US says Iranian UN officials barred from luxury shopping in New York
The United States will continue barring Iranian UN Mission officials, visiting officials and their dependents from buying luxury goods or wholesale club memberships in the country, State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said on Thursday.
In a post on X, Pigott said the restrictions were intended to prevent Iranian officials attending the UN General Assembly from using their stay in New York for luxury purchases.
“Not on our watch,” Pigott wrote, saying Washington would not allow Iranian officials to use UNGA for what he called a “luxury retail splurge.”
The Trump administration has approved visas for President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other members of Iran’s core delegation to attend next week’s UN General Assembly high-level meetings, while imposing travel and purchasing restrictions on the delegation, AP reported.
Pigott also urged New York-area retailers to remain alert and avoid facilitating purchases barred under the restrictions.