The Trump administration announced Monday that it banned Iranian diplomats visiting or stationed in New York from shopping at wholesale club stores like Costco, Sam’s Club and BJ’s Wholesale unless they first obtain permission from the U.S. State Department. The notices were made public in the Federal Register Tuesday.
“We will not allow the Iranian regime to allow its clerical elites to have a shopping spree in New York while the Iranian people endure poverty, crumbling infrastructure, and dire shortages of water and electricity, ” State Department Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement.
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The ban came as Iranian officials arrived in New York for the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly.
In the notices, the State Department’s Office of Foreign Missions also banned Iranian diplomats from buying luxury items such as watches, furs, jewelry, purses, wallets, colognes, perfumes, tobacco products, wine and spirits valued at more than $1,000, as well as vehicles valued at more than $60,000, CNN reported.
Iranian diplomats like purchasing American goods in bulk
The State Department exclusively listed Iran in the ban. Tehran’s diplomats have favored stores like Costco and Sam’s Club because bulk items are not available in Iran due to strict international sanctions. In past years, Iranian diplomats were able to send home large quantities of low-priced American goods, according to The Associated Press.
“By preventing Iranian regime officials from exploiting diplomatic travel to the UN as a means to obtain goods unavailable to the Iranian public, we are sending a clear message: When the United States says it stands with the people of Iran, we mean it,” Pigott said.
According to the Trump administration, the ban on shopping at Costco and other wholesale retailers is permanent.
Travel restrictions
Pigott added that Tehran officials who visit New York for the U.N. General Assembly must remain in “the areas strictly necessary to transit to and from the UN headquarters to conduct their official UN business.”
“The security of Americans is always our priority, and the United States will not allow the Iranian regime to use UNGA as an excuse to travel freely in New York to promote its terrorist agenda,” Pigott added.
Iran’s president leads delegation
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is leading Tehran’s delegation to the U.N. as the international body is set to reimpose sanctions that were lifted under the Iran nuclear deal.
Tehran has not issued an official response to the U.S. restrictions on its diplomats’ purchases and travel.
The move follows the Trump administration’s decision to deny visas for diplomats from the Palestinian Authority, including President Mahmoud Abbas. Those Palestinian officials are unable to attend the U.N. conference as a result.
