<p class="wp-block-paragraph"><a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/iran/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Iranian</a> President Masoud Pezeshkian is traveling to New York City, where the U.S. State Department has restricted the size of his delegation and their movements.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Pezeshkian is scheduled to speak at the <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/world/4735481/what-to-know-2026-un-general-assembly/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">U.N. General Assembly</a> this week, delivering an address on Wednesday. He is <a href="https://iranwire.com/en/news/157873-iran-president-pezeshkian-to-address-un-general-assembly-in-new-york/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">expected</a> to meet with various world leaders and Iranian expatriates in the U.S. His delegation will include his chief of staff, Mohsen Haji-Mirzaei, and the deputy head of presidential protocol and ceremonies, Seyyed Abbas Mousavi.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A State Department spokesperson stated that the “delegation is smaller than last year,” likely due to restrictions placed on Pezeshkian’s media team as reported by Iranian state outlets.</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="Pezeshkian" class="wp-image-4736442" height="682" src="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/AP26255396991295.jpg?w=696" width="1024" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attends the BRICS Summit in New Delhi, India, Saturday, Sept. 12, 2026. (Alexander Kazakov, Sputnik, Kremlin/Pool Photo via AP)</figcaption></figure>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">According to the Iranian state news agency IRNA, “In an unprecedented hostile move by the U.S. government, Trump has denied U.S. visas to certain members of the president’s high-level delegation, including members of his communications team.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tag/state-department/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">State Department</a> has also imposed restrictions on the travel and commerce of approved diplomats during their trip.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The department confirmed, “Consistent with our host country obligations, the core delegation from the Iranian regime will be able to attend UN General Assembly High Level Week.” However, they will face travel restrictions and prohibitions on purchasing luxury goods.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">State Department spokesman Tommy Pigott stated that Iranian officials aimed to “go on shopping sprees in New York” while “ordinary Iranians endure brutal repression, water and electricity shortages, and soaring inflation.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Pigott added, “We will 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 noted that the U.S. will continue to ban Iranian UN Mission officials and their dependents from buying wholesale club memberships or luxury goods in the U.S.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The Iranian Foreign Ministry dismissed the shopping restrictions as a “theatrical announcement” meant to distract from the “brutal economic war” waged by the White House “on every Iranian citizen.”</p>
<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img alt="Pezeshkian United Nations" class="wp-image-4736443" height="683" src="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/AP24268742962695.jpg?w=696" width="1024" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Masoud Pezeshkian, president of Iran, addresses the 79th session of the U.N. General Assembly at U.N. headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)</figcaption></figure>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei criticized the U.S. for sanctioning an entire nation’s livelihood while issuing statements about store membership cards. He described the U.S. propaganda as “crude and threadbare.”</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will also attend alongside Pezeshkian, having started his trip in Qatar before heading to New York.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">President Donald Trump has expressed interest in meeting with Pezeshkian during his visit to New York City, according to a report from Fox News.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Secretary of State Marco Rubio will be in New York City until Wednesday for the General Assembly’s High-Level Week. He <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/world/4735826/marco-rubio-opening-bell-nyse-un-general-assembly/#google_vignette" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">rang the opening bell</a> at the New York Stock Exchange on Monday to mark the assembly.</p>
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">The <em>Washington Examiner</em> inquired whether Rubio plans to meet with Iranian officials during the U.N. assembly but did not receive a response.</p>