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Iranian diplomats "kicked out" of U.S. after ignoring order to leave

Barak Ravid

Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council during the UN General Assembly on Sept. 22. — Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends a meeting of the Gulf Cooperation Council the during UN General Assembly on Sept. 22. Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Two members of Iran's delegation to the UN General Assembly in New York were "kicked out" of the country on Saturday, several days after they were asked to leave, a U.S. official said.

"Secretary Rubio means business. Two more members of the Iranian delegation were found still in New York long after the UN General Assembly had passed. They have now been kicked out of the country," the official said.

Why it matters: It's the latest sign of tension between the two countries as diplomatic efforts to end the war falter and the prospect of renewed combat rises.

State of play: The U.S. official said the two Iranian diplomats did not obey a State Department demand to the Iranian mission to the UN on Monday that its entire delegation leave the country immediately.

On Friday, the Iranian mission to the UN was told the U.S. was aware the two diplomats were still in New York despite having asked them to leave. Iran was told again the two need to leave immediately.
One of the Iranian diplomats left on Friday night and the second on Saturday morning, the official said.

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Iranian diplomats "kicked out" of U.S. after ignoring order to leave

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