Iran's Araghchi arrives in New York for UNGA as US-Iran war continues

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi arrived in New York on Tuesday, September 22, to attend the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly, as the conflict between Tehran and Washington continues into its seventh month.

Araghchi's visit marks his first trip to the United States since the war began on February 28. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is also due to attend the high-level UNGA session and address the gathering.

The arrival comes as US President Donald Trump has stepped up his rhetoric against Tehran, warning that “very big things” could happen amid the continuing conflict. At the same time, Washington and Tehran have continued intermittent diplomatic contacts aimed at ending the war.

Washington permits a smaller Iranian delegation

The United States approved visas for the Iranian delegation on September 17, allowing a core group led by Pezeshkian and Araghchi to attend the UN meetings in New York. The State Department said the decision was consistent with US obligations as host country under the UN headquarters arrangements.

The delegation is smaller than the one Iran sent to the 2025 General Assembly, according to a State Department spokesperson. Essential staff members have also been permitted to travel.

The 81st General Assembly's general debate began on September 22 and is scheduled to continue through September 26, with an additional sitting on September 28.

Strict restrictions on movement and purchases

Although Washington has granted visas to the Iranian delegation, its members will face significant restrictions while in the United States.

According to the State Department, the delegation is barred from purchasing luxury and certain other goods under US sanctions policy. Their movements are also restricted, with permitted travel limited to designated locations connected with the UN visit. Reuters reported that these include John F Kennedy International Airport, UN headquarters, Iran's UN mission and the Iranian ambassador's residence.

The delegation is staying at the Millennium Hilton, where Iranian officials have repeatedly stayed since 2013. Under the restrictions described by the State Department, members are permitted to travel between the airport, hotel and UN headquarters.

The restrictions come against the backdrop of Washington's broader sanctions campaign against Tehran.

War has kept tensions high

The US-Iran conflict began on February 28, when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against targets in Iran. The fighting subsequently spread across the region, with Iran retaliating against US-linked facilities in the Gulf.

Tehran also blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a major global energy route, contributing to heightened concern over international oil supplies and prices. The conflict has also intersected with attacks and tensions involving Iran-backed groups elsewhere in the region.

Although there have been no reported US strikes on Iran in recent weeks, Trump has continued to signal that Washington is considering major measures against Tehran, including efforts to economically isolate the country.

Iran has warned that any further US military strike would prompt retaliation.

The continuing conflict has also affected global energy markets. Oil prices rose on September 22 amid expectations that the UN General Assembly could provide an opportunity for US-Iran diplomatic contacts, although market uncertainty remains high.

Iran has a long history at the UN

Iran's participation in the General Assembly is not new. Tehran has been a UN member since 1945 and was among the organisation's original founding members.

One notable appearance came in 1987, when then-Iranian President Ali Khamenei addressed the 42nd session of the General Assembly in New York. UN records show that Khamenei delivered his address on September 22, 1987, during the Iran-Iraq war.

In 2015, then-President Hassan Rouhani addressed the General Assembly after Iran and world powers reached the nuclear agreement known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Rouhani welcomed the deal, which had been negotiated during US President Barack Obama's administration.

Iranian presidents have continued to use the UN platform to present Tehran's position on international and regional disputes. Pezeshkian's appearance this year comes under markedly different circumstances, with Iran and the United States still engaged in an active conflict.

A diplomatic platform amid the conflict

Pezeshkian's planned appearance gives Tehran an opportunity to present its position directly to world leaders while the war continues. His attendance also highlights the unusual diplomatic circumstances surrounding this year's UNGA, with the United States hosting senior officials from a country with which it remains at war.

The US decision to allow Iran's core delegation to attend was announced despite the ongoing conflict and Washington's sanctions on Tehran. The State Department has described the permission as part of its obligations as the UN host country.