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- US State Department ordered two Iranian diplomats to leave.
- Diplomats overstayed UN General Assembly visit in New York.
- Expulsion occurs amid high US-Iran tensions in Middle East.
Two members of Iran’s delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York have left the United States after being asked by the US State Department to leave the country. The two diplomats had reportedly remained in New York several days after the order was issued. The development comes as tensions between Washington and Tehran remain high due to ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
US Orders Iranian Diplomats To Leave
According to Axios, the US State Department had directed Iran’s mission to the United Nations on Monday to ensure that its delegation members leave the country immediately. However, two members of the Iranian delegation remained in New York despite the instruction. On Friday, the Iranian mission was informed that US authorities knew the two diplomats were still in the city.
Thereafter, Iran was again told that they needed to leave immediately. “Secretary Rubio means business. Two more members of the Iranian delegation were found still in New York long after the UN General Assembly had passed. They have now been kicked out of the country,” the US official told Axios.
ALSO READ: Trump Claims Iran May Be Linked To flydubai Co-Pilot Who Attempted To Crash Dubai-Tel Aviv Flight
Two Diplomats Leave New York
According to the US official, one of the Iranian diplomats left New York on Friday night. The second diplomat left the city on Saturday morning. The US official said the two diplomats had not followed the earlier instructions from the State Department to leave the US.
Iran-US Tensions
The latest episode comes at a time when diplomatic efforts to end the war are facing difficulties. The possibility of renewed fighting has also increased as US President Donald Trump rejected Iran’s 7-day peace plan aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz and paving way for further talks. Meanwhile, the US is moving a third aircraft carrier and thousands of additional troops towards the Middle East.
According to Al Jazeera report, citing a US official, the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group left its San Diego base on Sunday and is heading towards the Middle East. A day later, the Makin Island Marine Expeditionary Force, carrying more than 2,000 Marines, also departed.
Earlier on Thursday, when asked whether Iran would be hit if it was responsible for an attack on a recent flydubai plane incident, Trump said, “They'll be hit very hard. You just ask them. They know what happened. They'll be hit very hard.”
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