Two members of the Iranian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly were removed from the United States over the weekend. According to reports, the individuals were sent home by the State Department on Friday night and Saturday morning after having been previously instructed to leave the country.

The circumstances surrounding the removal are characterized differently by the involved parties and media outlets. The Washington Examiner reports that the action was a deliberate enforcement measure, quoting a U.S. official who stated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio “means business.” This framing suggests the removal is part of a broader, more assertive diplomatic strategy under the current administration.

Conversely, RT frames the event as a contentious expulsion, noting that the diplomats allegedly ignored an initial order to depart following unsuccessful talks between Washington and Tehran. While both sources agree that the diplomats were removed after the conclusion of the UN General Assembly and that they had been asked to leave previously, they diverge on the tone and context of the incident. The Washington Examiner emphasizes the authority of the State Department, while RT focuses on the adversarial nature of the U.S. claim, labeling the event an expulsion resulting from failed negotiations.