The United States is evaluating a proposal to restrict Iranian diplomats from shopping at wholesale clubs like Costco during the UN General Assembly, as part of broader limitations on certain country delegations. This move, revealed in a State Department memo, aims to curb activities of diplomats from nations including Iran, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and surprisingly Brazil, during the high-level meeting in New York.
The Trump administration is considering imposing severe travel and shopping restrictions on delegations from Iran, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and Brazil for the upcoming UN General Assembly session starting September 22. An internal State Department memorandum, obtained by The Associated Press, outlines potential measures that could limit these groups’ movements outside New York City, reflecting a hardened stance on diplomatic permissions.
Specifically, one proposal would bar Iranian diplomats from visiting members-only wholesale stores such as Costco and Sam’s Club without prior explicit approval from the State Department. These establishments have been popular among Iranian officials because they allow for bulk purchases of goods that are scarce or unavailable in Iran due to economic sanctions, enabling them to acquire products at lower costs and ship them home.
The inclusion of Brazil in these considerations is particularly notable, as its president traditionally delivers the first speech at the UN General Assembly. This potential restriction may arise from tensions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, especially concerning the prosecution of former President Jair Bolsonaro on allegations related to an attempted coup.
This initiative is part of the Trump administration’s broader crackdown on visa issuances and reviews, which has already seen visas denied to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation. The administration is conducting a wide-ranging assessment of existing permissions and new applications for UN attendees, signaling a more aggressive approach to diplomatic access.
In contrast, Syria’s delegation has received a waiver from long-standing travel restrictions, a decision made last week as the U.S. seeks to build ties following the ouster of President Bashar Assad and integrate Syria into regional affairs. This waiver highlights the selective nature of the administration’s diplomatic strategies.
The State Department has not commented on the proposals, and the Iranian and Brazilian UN missions have not responded to requests for input. It remains unclear when or if these measures will be implemented, but the memo indicates that the department is also considering drafting rules to impose terms and conditions on wholesale club memberships for all foreign diplomats in the U.S.
These potential actions could have significant implications for diplomatic relations and the conduct of international gatherings, affecting the daily operations of foreign representatives and underscoring the complexities of U.S. foreign policy in a multilateral context.