US bars Iran’s diplomats from shopping at Costco without government permission
The Trump administration has barred Iranian diplomats based in or visiting New York from shopping at wholesale club shops such as Costco and buying luxury goods in the United States without specific permission from the State Department. In notices to be published this week in the Federal Register, the department’s Office of Foreign Missions determined…
The Trump administration has barred Iranian diplomats based in or visiting New York from shopping at wholesale club shops such as Costco and buying luxury goods in the United States without specific permission from the State Department.
In notices to be published this week in the Federal Register, the department’s Office of Foreign Missions determined that diplomatic memberships in wholesale club shops, as well as diplomats’ ability to buy items such as watches, furs, jewellery, handbags, wallets, perfumes, tobacco, alcohol and cars, are a “benefit” requiring US government approval.
While world leaders are gathering this week for the high-profile annual meeting at the international body, the new US restrictions permanently apply to any Iranian diplomats representing their country at the UN year-round.
The determinations, which were posted online on Monday and to be printed on Tuesday, said Iranian diplomats and their dependents must “obtain approval from the Department of State prior to: obtaining or otherwise retaining membership at any wholesale club store in the United States, to include but not limited to Costco, Sam’s Club, or BJ’s Wholesale Club, and acquiring items from such wholesale club stores through any means”.
