Two Iranian diplomats kicked out of US after Rubio's order as Tehran disputes expulsion

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Two Iranian diplomats were forced to leave the United States after allegedly remaining in New York despite Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordering Iran’s UN delegation to depart, according to a US official cited by Axios in a report published on Saturday, October 3.

One left Friday night and the other Saturday morning after the State Department again demanded their immediate departure.

The episode is the second stage of a diplomatic confrontation that began when Rubio ordered Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his delegation out of the country after indirect US-Iran talks stalled.

Iran has disputed Washington's account of how its delegation left.

Two diplomats stayed despite Marco Rubio's exit order

The State Department initially told Iran’s UN mission on Monday that the entire delegation had to leave immediately, according to the US official.

Washington later discovered that two members were still in New York.

On Friday, US officials informed the Iranian mission that they knew the diplomats remained in the city and again instructed them to depart.

"Secretary Rubio means business," a US official said. "Two more members of the Iranian delegation were found still in New York long after the UN General Assembly had passed. They have now been kicked out of the country."

The incident followed the Trump administration’s decision to allow Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Araghchi and their delegations into the US for the UN General Assembly despite the countries being at war, subject to strict travel and purchasing restrictions.

Iran says departure was already planned

Iran has denied that its delegation was expelled.

Its UN mission said Araghchi and the delegation left New York Monday evening, according to an itinerary communicated to the State Department on September 17.

The mission accused Washington of spreading what it called “baseless and worthless news” after the delegation’s departure.

The earlier dispute centered on Araghchi’s decision to remain in New York after Pezeshkian left.

US officials said Rubio ordered the foreign minister out after weekend discussions produced little progress, while one official said the delegation had “overstayed their welcome.”

Expulsions come as US-Iran talks falter

Araghchi had stayed behind because Qatar was mediating indirect discussions involving the war, the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear program.

Reports stated that the latest Iranian proposal called for an end to hostilities, sanctions relief and reopening the Strait in exchange for renewed nuclear negotiations.

President Donald Trump said he had rejected the proposal but also indicated that US negotiators could continue talks.

Iran said it was awaiting Washington’s definitive position.