Iranian diplomats assigned to or visiting New York are effectively banned from shopping at wholesale club stores like Costco, Sam’s Club, or BJ’s Wholesale Club.
The State Department released a notice, which is scheduled to be published on the Federal Register, announcing that Iranian officials must obtain special permission to hold a membership and purchase at wholesale clubs. They must also receive approval before they can purchase “luxury items” priced above $1,000, which includes jewelry, furs, perfumes, watches, clothing, and artwork. Vehicles purchases must also be approved if the the price is above $60,000.
The Trump administration’s crackdown on Iranian officials, including those based at the Iranian Mission New York, comes amid the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, which will welcome 150 heads of state along with their supporting officials.
“We will not allow the Iranian regime to allow its clerical elites to have a shopping spree in New York while the Iranian people endure poverty, crumbling infrastructure, and dire shortages of water and electricity,” State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Tommy Pigott said in a statement.
With Iran currently sanctions from the United States and the United Nations, many luxury goods aren’t available in Iran. Wholesale clubs not only have these goods, but the goods can be purchased in bulk at a cheaper price. The State Department is looking to prevent Iranian officials from not only purchasing these items, but also to prevent them from sending the goods back to their home.
The State Department is also limiting the travel of Iranian officials “to the areas strictly necessary to transit to and from the UN headquarters district to conduct their official UN business,” Pigott said in statement.
“The security of Americans is always our priority, and the United States will not allow the Iranian regime to use UNGA as an excuse to travel freely in New York to promote its terrorist agenda,” Pigott said in a statement.
Pigott said that the Trump administration’s decision was made in solidarity to the Iranian people.
“By preventing Iranian regime officials from exploiting diplomatic travel to the UN as a means to obtain goods unavailable to the Iranian public, we are sending a clear message: When the United States says it stands with the people of Iran, we mean it,” Pigott said in a statement. “Today’s actions affirm the United States’ unwavering commitment to supporting the Iranian people in their pursuit of accountability for the regime and for a better life.”
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