Trump Administration Considers Further Visa Restrictions for UN Delegations

The Trump administration, which recently denied visas to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation for a high-level United Nations meeting, is reportedly weighing additional restrictions on delegations from Iran, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and possibly Brazil, according to an internal State Department memo obtained by The Associated Press.

No final decisions have been made, but the proposals signal a tightening of US visa policies for foreign officials attending UN events. Iranian diplomats in New York already face strict limits, and new rules could prohibit them from shopping at wholesale retailers like Costco without prior approval.

For Brazil, it is unclear whether restrictions would apply to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva or lower-level officials. Meanwhile, Syria’s delegation has been granted a waiver, as Washington seeks to rebuild regional ties following Bashar Assad’s partial reintegration.

The State Department declined to comment, and Iranian and Brazilian UN missions did not respond immediately.