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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in New York on Monday to lead Tehran’s diplomatic delegation at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), according to the foreign ministry.
Araghchi is the highest-ranking Iranian official to travel to the United States since the Middle East war began with US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February.
After arriving, Araghchi spoke by phone with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, with the two discussing the agenda of the General Assembly, Iranian state television reported.
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Araghchi told Iranian journalists that his main objective was to use the international gathering to defend what Tehran considers the legitimacy, rights and interests of the Iranian people.
“Our most important objective is to use a major international platform to defend the legitimacy, rights, and interests of the Iranian people,” Araghchi said.
Iranian state media had earlier reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian would lead the delegation, but said the United States had refused visas to members of his team, including his communications staff.
Following Araghchi’s arrival, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei described him as the head of Iran’s diplomatic delegation to the General Assembly.
Baqaei said Araghchi would hold talks and consultations with officials and foreign ministers attending the UN session.
The United States has authorised an Iranian delegation to attend the gathering but has imposed restrictions similar to those introduced last year.
The State Department said Thursday that members of the Iranian delegation would not be permitted to purchase luxury goods or certain other items during their stay in New York City.
Araghchi left Iran on Sunday evening and stopped in Qatar before travelling to New York.
Iran says it has communicated conditions to the United States, through Qatar as a mediator, for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a major oil and gas shipping route that Tehran has effectively blocked since the war began.
The United States has responded by imposing a counterblockade on Iranian ports.
