Iran hits back after reports Rubio kicked out Iranian diplomats to leave US amid stalled talks
The comments came after reports that two members of Iran’s UN delegation were found in New York days after the General Assembly had ended
TEHRAN, IRAN: Iran, on Sunday, October 4, pushed back against the US account of what happened to its diplomats after the United Nations General Assembly, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi challenging Washington’s claim that members of the Iranian delegation were expelled.
His response came after reports that two Iranian diplomats were removed from the United States for allegedly remaining in New York despite an order to leave, adding a fresh layer of tension to the already strained US-Iran diplomatic relationship.
Araghchi rejects ‘expulsion’ claim
Araghchi directly disputed the US version in a post on X, insisting that Iranian diplomats who attended the UN General Assembly had followed their planned travel schedule.
“All Iranian diplomats who attended UNGA, except one who departed earlier, left as scheduled,” Araghchi wrote.
He then sharply criticised the portrayal of their departure as an American expulsion, saying: “Taking pride in fake diplomat ‘expulsion’ is inappropriate for the head of any diplomatic corps.”
Araghchi went further, accusing Washington of projecting weakness through the episode.
“It oozes of desperation and defeat and is inconsistent with UN host nation obligations,” he wrote.
Tehran challenges Washington’s version
The dispute began after the United States ordered Iran’s delegation to leave New York following the UN General Assembly, as indirect Washington-Tehran talks made little progress.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio reportedly directed the Iranian mission on September 28 to have the delegation depart immediately. A US official said the group had “overstayed their welcome” after the high-level UN meetings ended.
The situation escalated days later when US officials said two members of the Iranian delegation were still in New York.
According to the US account, the State Department informed Iran’s UN mission on Friday that it knew the two diplomats remained in the city and again instructed them to leave.
One departed Friday night, while the second left Saturday morning.
A US official described the departures as the diplomats being “kicked out” after they allegedly failed to comply with the earlier order.
Tehran has disputed that characterization from the outset.
Iran’s UN mission said the delegation’s departure had been planned in advance and that the schedule had been communicated to the State Department on September 17.
It rejected the suggestion that Washington had forced the delegation out.
The disagreement comes as diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran remain strained.
The Iranian delegation had stayed in New York partly for indirect discussions involving Qatari mediators, with talks focused on issues including the Strait of Hormuz, the conflict and Iran’s nuclear program.
The negotiations failed to produce a breakthrough, adding to tensions surrounding the diplomats’ departure.
