Full Breakdown
U.S. Orders Iran’s UN Delegation to Depart Amid Stalled Talks
By Drooid · · How we work
Diplomatic Expulsion at the UN
On February 17, 2026, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed the United Nations mission in New York to tell Iran’s delegation to leave the United States immediately. The delegation, led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, had been in New York for a special session of the Conference on Disarmament and for indirect negotiations with the United States. The order came after U.S. officials assessed that talks between Washington and Tehran had reached a stalemate earlier that day.
Lead-up and Mediation Attempts
Negotiations had been mediated by Qatar, which sought to bridge gaps between the two sides. According to reporting, both Washington and Tehran were unwilling to make the concessions required for an agreement, prompting the diplomatic rebuke. The Iranian officials were already expected to depart after the General Assembly session, but Rubio’s directive accelerated their exit.
Official Actions and Responses
A U.S. Acting on Rubio’s instruction, the U.S. mission to the UN notified Iran’s mission that the delegation must leave New York immediately. The Iranian team complied, traveling to the airport and boarding a flight to Doha at 1:20 a.m. on the following day.
Immediate Aftermath
The expulsion underscored the deteriorating diplomatic climate and signaled that the United States was unwilling to extend further goodwill without tangible progress.