ALBAWABA - Axios reported on Thursday that the Iranian delegation, which visited New York in September to attend the UN General Assembly, was expelled by United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Rubio ordered the Iranian delegation, led by Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi, to leave New York immediately on Monday evening.
This decision was taken amid stalled indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran, despite mediation efforts aimed at achieving a breakthrough to end the war.
The American website cited a U.S. official and another informed source who revealed that the delegation departed on a flight to Doha hours after receiving the request, while Qatari mediators continued their contacts with both sides.
Seyed Abbas Aragchi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iran and Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), shake hands during the 81st session of the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters on September 28, 2026 in New York City. Photo by RYAN MURPHY / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP
The Iranian delegation left New York a few hours later on a flight bound for Doha at 1:20 a.m. Tuesday, en route back to Tehran.
On the other hand, the Iranian mission to the United Nations denied on Thursday reports claiming that the U.S. had asked the Iranian delegation to leave New York. The mission said that the delegation's departure had been pre-planned, in accordance with a schedule previously communicated to the U.S. State Department.
The mission added that the delegation departed New York on Monday evening (local time) as per the schedule shared with the State Department on September 17.
Additionally, the Iranian mission to the UN noted that the U.S. State Department, "having gained nothing, resorted to spreading baseless and worthless news".
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