Iranian Delegation Arrives in New York for UN Assembly Amid Ongoing Tensions with the US

A slimmed-down Iranian delegation is arriving in New York this week for the United Nations General Assembly, as President Donald Trump touts the possibility of “very big things” ahead amid the war in the Middle East. A founding member of the UN, Iran has maintained a presence at the global diplomatic event for decades, led most recently by the country’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, and his predecessor, Ebrahim Raisi. But the presence of Iran’s delegation this year, on the home turf of a country with which it remains at war, is unprecedented in recent years.

The Trump administration has said it will allow Iran’s “core delegation,” which will include Pezeshkian, to come to New York. This year’s delegation will be smaller than during the 2025 event, months before the US-Iran war started, a State Department spokesperson said Thursday. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in New York on Monday, according to state media, while Pezeshkian is expected to travel to the US on Tuesday. The exact makeup of Iran’s wider delegation is not yet known.

No US strikes on Iran have been publicly reported for more than two weeks. Despite the lull, Trump indicated that major decisions on Iran may be approaching — a statement that risks aggravating tensions between the two nations ahead of the diplomatic gathering. Iran, meanwhile, has warned that any new US attack would trigger sustained strikes on US bases and interests across the region.

The Iranian president’s security will be provided by the US Secret Service during the UN General Assembly, according to American officials. Other Iranian representatives will be protected by the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service, the officials said. The federal security services will be backed up by members of the New York Police Department’s Intelligence Bureau, along with NYPD detectives and highway patrol escorts, officials told CNN.