TEHRAN/NEW YORK – Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman on Wednesday criticized the United States for imposing “cheap” and “systematic” restrictions on Iranian diplomats attending the United Nations General Assembly in New York, calling the measures a violation of international obligations and a reflection of longstanding U.S. hostility toward Iran.
In a post on X, Esmaeil Baghaei said the U.S. administration had placed strict curbs on the movement of Iranian diplomats, including limitations on basic activities such as grocery shopping. 
He added that several members of President Masoud Pezeshkian’s media team had been denied visas to attend the 80th annual UN General Assembly session.
“The real objective behind the increasing restrictions imposed by the U.S. administration on Iranian diplomats and their dependents in New York is to disrupt Iran’s diplomatic performance within the United Nations,” Baghaei said.
He said U.S. authorities had prevented Iranian delegates from attending “several multilateral events” outside the designated zones assigned to them during this week alone.
Baghaei called the restrictions “a blatant violation” of Washington’s responsibilities under the 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement, which governs the presence and rights of diplomats at the United Nations.
“Applying such cheap restrictions on our diplomats’ movements and even on their daily grocery shopping … is a new low in terms of showcasing the extent of animosity of the U.S. administration toward Iranians,” he said.
The restrictions follow a sharp escalation in June, when Israel launched a 12-day military aggression against Iran, martyring at least 1,064 people, including senior commanders, nuclear scientists, and civilians. Iran responded with missile strikes targeting key Israeli sites, eventually forcing a ceasefire.
Washington of further inflamed the war by carrying out airstrikes on three of its peaceful nuclear facilities.