Abbas Araghchi arrives amid tensions with Washington, prepares to present Iran’s position at the 81st UN General Assembly
New York, September 22: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in New York on Monday at the head of Tehran’s diplomatic delegation to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, but his arrival was met with protests as tensions between Iran and the United States remain high.
Araghchi is expected to participate in discussions on the UNGA agenda and hold meetings with foreign ministers and senior officials from several countries during his stay. His visit comes at a particularly sensitive time, with relations between Tehran and Washington remaining deeply strained.
Iranian state media reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian is also scheduled to travel to New York to attend the UNGA session. He is expected to address the General Assembly and outline Tehran’s position on the ongoing confrontation involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
Tehran plans to use the UN platform to make its case
Before leaving Tehran, Araghchi said Iran’s delegation would use the United Nations platform to present what it describes as its position, rights and national interests following recent attacks.
He described the UN as the world’s most important international forum and said it remains one of the few platforms where countries can directly present their positions to the international community.
According to the Iranian foreign minister, Tehran intends to highlight what it considers to be the suffering caused to the Iranian people and pay tribute to those killed in the conflict. He also referred to victims of the Minab school incident and Iranian leaders killed in the confrontation.
Visit comes with strict US restrictions
The Iranian delegation’s arrival in New York comes amid continuing tensions with Washington. The United States approved visas for the Iranian delegation on September 17, but the visit has reportedly been accompanied by strict restrictions on the delegation’s movement and activities.
According to reports, Iranian officials have been permitted to travel only between the airport, their designated hotel and the nearby United Nations headquarters. The delegation is staying at the Millennium Hilton Hotel, where Iranian officials have reportedly stayed during previous UN visits.
The delegation has also reportedly been subjected to restrictions on shopping for luxury and other goods during its stay.
Protest adds another layer to diplomatic tensions
The demonstrations faced by Araghchi after his arrival have added another dimension to an already tense diplomatic visit. While the Iranian delegation is preparing to engage with world leaders and diplomats inside the UN complex, its presence has also drawn criticism outside the international body.
The contrast underlines the difficult environment in which Tehran is seeking to present its case: diplomatic engagement at the UN on one side and continuing political confrontation with Washington on the other.
Pezeshkian expected to deliver Iran’s broader message
President Masoud Pezeshkian’s expected participation is likely to give Iran’s UNGA presence greater political significance. His address could provide Tehran with an opportunity to directly outline its position on the conflict and appeal to the international community.
For Iran, the UN General Assembly is not merely a diplomatic gathering this year. Tehran appears determined to use the global platform to challenge the narrative surrounding the conflict, defend its national interests and draw international attention to what it describes as attacks against its people.
With Araghchi already in New York and Pezeshkian expected to follow, Iran’s diplomatic campaign at the UN is set to unfold against one of the most difficult periods in its relations with Washington.
(SDNA)