Summary A US official said Rubio ordered the Iranian delegation to leave because the UN General Assembly had concluded and the delegation had "overstayed their welcome".
WASHINGTON (Web Desk) - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered the Iranian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly to leave the United States immediately after diplomatic negotiations between Washington and Tehran stalled, according to a US official and another source familiar with the matter.
Among those instructed to leave New York was Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Rubio's counterpart in the diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the conflict.
The move came after Qatari mediators made efforts to bridge differences between the United States and Iran but failed to achieve a breakthrough, with neither side prepared to make significant concessions.
A US official said Rubio ordered the Iranian delegation to leave because the UN General Assembly had concluded and the delegation had "overstayed their welcome".
According to the official, the White House initially believed on Monday morning that progress could be made in talks with Iran later in the day. By the afternoon, however, negotiations had reached a stalemate.
Later Monday evening, the US mission to the United Nations informed the Iranian mission that Araghchi's delegation was required to leave New York immediately, the official said.
The Iranian delegation, including Araghchi, subsequently travelled to the airport several hours later and boarded a flight from New York to Doha at 1:20am on Tuesday.
A second source confirmed that Washington had demanded the Iranian delegation leave the country, while noting that Araghchi had already been scheduled to return to Tehran on Monday night.
The expulsion order represented an unusual diplomatic rebuke and highlighted the deep mistrust between Washington and Tehran as efforts to negotiate an end to the war have failed to produce an agreement.
Qatari mediators are continuing discussions with both sides over a compromise proposal, according to regional sources.
US President Donald Trump, when asked about the prospects of reaching an agreement with Iran, said on Wednesday that Washington may have to consider military action, adding that the United States would have to decide whether to pursue a deal or "blow 'em up".
The latest developments come as diplomatic efforts continue amid uncertainty over whether Washington and Tehran can reach an agreement through mediation.
