Iran’s foreign minister arrives in New York for UN General Assembly

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in New York on Monday, heading the country's diplomatic team at the annual UN General Assembly. This marks the highest-ranking Iranian official to enter the US since the Middle East conflict erupted with US-Israeli attacks on Iran in February.

Post-arrival, Araghchi held a phone conversation with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to discuss the agenda of the UN General Assembly. Araghchi expressed, "Our primary goal is to utilize a major international platform to defend the legitimacy, rights, and interests of the Iranian people," according to Iranian state television.

Initial reports suggested that President Masoud Pezeshkian would lead Iran's delegation, but Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei clarified through a social media post on X that Araghchi was the head of the diplomatic delegation. He also mentioned that Araghchi would engage in discussions and consultations with several officials and foreign ministers present at the session.

Despite Iran and the US agreeing for Iran’s delegation to attend the UN gathering, the latter has imposed certain restrictions. For instance, Iran's delegation will be prohibited from buying luxury goods or other items during their stay in New York City, as stated by the State Department on Thursday.

Araghchi departed Iran on Sunday evening, making a stopover in Qatar. Iran has communicated its conditions to the US via Qatar, aiming to reopen the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz oil and gas shipping route, which has been effectively blocked since the war's onset. In response, the US is imposing a counterblockade on Iranian ports.