SAEDNEWS: Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations formally protested new travel restrictions imposed by the US on Iranian officials visiting New York, calling the measures illegal, discriminatory, and in violation of the UN Charter and host country obligations.
In a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Under-Secretary-General for Legal Affairs and UN Legal Counsel Elinor Hammarskjöld, and Chair of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country Maria Michail, Iran’s representative criticized Washington’s decision to further limit the movement of Iranian visiting officials in New York, describing it as unlawful interference in the independent functioning of a sovereign member state’s delegation.
Saeed Iravani argued that the restrictions violate international legal instruments governing diplomatic privileges and immunities, undermine the principle of sovereign equality, and require urgent UN action to ensure full compliance by the host country.
The full text of his letter reads as follows:
Excellency,
Upon instructions from my Government, I draw your attention to Note No. HC 2025-92, dated 17 November 2025, issued by the Permanent Mission of the United States to the United Nations. The note announces further illegal restrictions on the movement of “all Iranian government officials temporarily traveling to New York,” severely confining their travel to an area bounded by Second Avenue, East 42nd Street, and East 49th Street. Any movement beyond this area requires prior submission of a “request” with “appropriate justifications” to U.S. authorities and their subsequent approval.
This effectively places the host country in a position to influence and interfere with the independent exercise of the functions of Iranian representatives, subordinating the operations of Iran’s delegation—a sovereign state—to the policies of the United States. Such actions constitute a serious violation of the fundamental principle of sovereign equality, enshrined in Article 2 of the UN Charter. Beyond the clear illegality, these measures impede Iranian officials’ access to essential services, including healthcare, logistics, transportation, and lodging.
By imposing these restrictions, the host country wrongfully assumes a non-existent authority to influence interactions between Iranian representatives and those of other Member States. The measures deliberately subject Iran’s delegation to coercion, duress, and conditions designed to undermine their dignity, amounting to harassment and undue control.
These restrictions violate the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations (1946), which makes no distinction between permanent and visiting representatives—a principle reaffirmed by UN General Assembly resolution A/RES/74/195 of 30 December 2019.
It is important to note that these violations are not merely a concern for Iran alone but constitute an urgent issue for the UN as a whole. As the UN Legal Counsel noted in 1967, “the Organization had a clear interest in assuring the privileges and immunities. It therefore seemed elementary that the rights of representatives should properly be protected by the Organization.”
Given the seriousness and urgency of the matter, I respectfully request that the Secretary-General take immediate and appropriate measures to remove these obstacles and ensure that the host country fully complies with its obligations, without discrimination among Member States, using all available means, including section 21 of the Headquarters Agreement (1947).
The Islamic Republic of Iran reserves the right to seek all appropriate legal remedies under the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations to safeguard its rights and prerogatives as a UN Member State.
I request that this letter be circulated as a document of the UN General Assembly under agenda item 160, “Report of the Committee on Relations with the Host Country.”
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration.
