Overview

• Iranian diplomats and their dependents now need State Department approval to hold memberships at wholesale clubs and to purchase items from those stores.
• Purchases of luxury goods over $1,000 and vehicles over $60,000 require prior U.S. approval, covering items such as watches, jewelry, apparel, electronics and alcohol.
• The Office of Foreign Missions formalized the restrictions in determinations signed by Clifton Seagroves on September 16 and 18 and posted for publication in the Federal Register.
• Iranian officials visiting New York for the UN General Assembly are restricted to transit strictly necessary to reach and depart the UN headquarters district for official business.
• The State Department framed the move as targeting regime elites who exploit access to U.S. goods, and officials also noted recent visa denials for Palestinian Authority representatives.