US implements travel restrictions on Iranian Foreign Minister

NEW YORK: The United States (US) Department of State announced it has imposed travel restrictions on the Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his delegation on Thursday.

The restrictions entail confining the Iranian delegation to a specific area around the United Nations headquarters in New York City.

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According to the US State Department, the Iranian delegation will be limited to traveling within a two-block radius from the United Nations headquarters. Additionally, they will only be permitted to travel between the UN headquarters and the Iranian mission in New York City.

The Iranian delegation will also have limited access to John F Kennedy Airport for travel purposes.

As per reports, Iranian Foreign Minister has been reported to be present at a United Nations Security Council meeting

These travel restrictions come amidst heightened tensions between the United States and Iran, with both countries engaged in diplomatic exchanges at the United Nations.

Iran launched missile and drone attack on Israel following airstrikes on its consulate in Damascus, Syria that killed several high ranking officers of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Israel has neither confirmed nor denied the attack. Meanwhile, the Permanent Mission of Islamic Republic of Iran to UN has warned the US to “stay out’’ of its matters with Israel.

“It is a conflict between Iran and the rogue Israeli regime, from which the US MUST STAY AWAY!” it stated on a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on April 13.

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Following Iranian drone attack on Israel, several western countries including the EU and US have mulled further sanctions on the Middle Eastern country already reeling from fragile economy caused by years-long sanctions.