WORLD AT FIVE

America’s enemies denied their liberty at the United Nations

Iranian diplomats have had restrictions placed on their movements at the forthcoming UN general assembly in the latest sign of tension between the global body and the White House. Catherine Philp reports

Javad Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister, must stay within six blocks of Manhattan adjacent to the United Nations headquarters on the East River. Previously Iranian diplomats and their families were allowed to range 25 miles from Central Park
Javad Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister, must stay within six blocks of Manhattan adjacent to the United Nations headquarters on the East River. Previously Iranian diplomats and their families were allowed to range 25 miles from Central Park
RICHARD DREW/AP
Catherine Philp
, Diplomatic Correspondent
The Times

When the United States grudgingly granted Iran’s foreign minister a visa to visit the United Nations headquarters in New York this week, they attached unprecedented conditions.

Once in Manhattan, Mohammad Javad Zarif, was to confine himself to six blocks adjacent to the organisation’s headquarters, allowing him only to move between the building itself, Iran’s diplomatic mission and the residence of its UN ambassador.

Now it emerges the same conditions have been placed on all of Iran’s diplomats in New York, highlighting the tension between the US hosting of the world body and a Washington administration increasingly sceptical of the multilateral body alongside its mounting hostility to Iran.

The United Nations compound is, by “inviolable” agreement, territory where no federal or state law applies
The United Nations compound is, by “inviolable” agreement, territory where no federal or state law applies
ALAMY

Iranian representatives to the UN and their families have long had their movements restricted, along with those from