Iran Appeals to UN Over 'Tightening Restrictions' on Its Diplomats in New York

The United Nations logo adorns a window at UN headquarters in New York City, US, September 18, 2025. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
The United Nations logo adorns a window at UN headquarters in New York City, US, September 18, 2025. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
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Iran Appeals to UN Over 'Tightening Restrictions' on Its Diplomats in New York

The United Nations logo adorns a window at UN headquarters in New York City, US, September 18, 2025. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon
The United Nations logo adorns a window at UN headquarters in New York City, US, September 18, 2025. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon

Tehran called on the United Nations to intervene in what it called the "tightening of restrictions on Iran's diplomatic mission to the United Nations in New York", according to a foreign ministry statement published on Thursday.

The statement also condemned a decision by the US State Department "to prevent the continuation of the activities" of three employees of Iran's mission in New York, Reuters reported.

The statement did not specify when the restrictions had been tightened, but in September, the United States imposed strict limits on the Iranian delegation attending the UN General Assembly in New York, curbing their movement and banning access to wholesale stores and luxury goods.

"The imposition of extensive restrictions on the residence and movement of Iranian diplomats, tightening restrictions on bank accounts, and imposing restrictions on daily purchases are among the pressures and harassment ... to disrupt the normal and legal duties of Iranian diplomats," the statement said.

Prior to the September restrictions, Iranian delegation members were allowed to travel between the United Nations, the Iranian UN mission, the Iranian UN ambassador's residence and John F. Kennedy International Airport.

Tensions between Tehran and Washington heightened after the two countries engaged in five rounds of indirect nuclear negotiations that ended with a 12-day air war in June in which Israel and the US bombed Iranian nuclear sites.



Ten Hurt in Fire at Shopping Center West of Tehran

 People ride motorcycles near a billboard featuring an image of the late Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, in Tehran, Iran, May 5, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
People ride motorcycles near a billboard featuring an image of the late Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, in Tehran, Iran, May 5, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
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Ten Hurt in Fire at Shopping Center West of Tehran

 People ride motorcycles near a billboard featuring an image of the late Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, in Tehran, Iran, May 5, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters
People ride motorcycles near a billboard featuring an image of the late Supreme Leader of Iran, Ali Khamenei, in Tehran, Iran, May 5, 2026. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency) via Reuters

At least 10 people were hurt after a fire broke out in a shopping center west of Tehran, Iranian media reported on Tuesday.

Iran's state broadcaster IRIB cited ‌the fire ‌department as saying that ‌the ⁠fire had been "largely ⁠contained".

The cause of the incident remains unknown, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.

Iranian media, including Fars, showed video of ⁠a plume of heavy ‌smoke rising ‌from the site.

Reuters was ‌able to verify the ‌location by the buildings, utility poles, trees and road layout that matched the archive and ‌satellite imagery of the area.

The fire broke out ⁠as ⁠a fragile ceasefire between Iran and the United States comes under renewed pressure following an exchange of fire between the two sides on Monday.


Iran Nobel Winner Mohammadi ‘Between Life and Death’, Say Supporters

 Chirinne Ardakani, lawyer for Iran's imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi, who was urgently transferred from prison to a hospital intensive care unit in Tehran, speaks during a news conference, while sitting next to Mona Armande of the Narges Mohammadi Association, in Paris, Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP)
Chirinne Ardakani, lawyer for Iran's imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi, who was urgently transferred from prison to a hospital intensive care unit in Tehran, speaks during a news conference, while sitting next to Mona Armande of the Narges Mohammadi Association, in Paris, Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP)
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Iran Nobel Winner Mohammadi ‘Between Life and Death’, Say Supporters

 Chirinne Ardakani, lawyer for Iran's imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi, who was urgently transferred from prison to a hospital intensive care unit in Tehran, speaks during a news conference, while sitting next to Mona Armande of the Narges Mohammadi Association, in Paris, Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP)
Chirinne Ardakani, lawyer for Iran's imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi, who was urgently transferred from prison to a hospital intensive care unit in Tehran, speaks during a news conference, while sitting next to Mona Armande of the Narges Mohammadi Association, in Paris, Tuesday, May 5, 2026. (AP)

Jailed Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi is fighting for her life after being hospitalized under guard for the last five days with a heart condition, her supporters said on Tuesday.

"We are not just fighting for the freedom of Narges, we are fighting so that her heart continues to beat," said her Paris-based lawyer Chirinne Ardakani at a news conference of her supporters, adding that the 2023 laureate was now "between life and death".

Jonathan Dagher of Paris-based press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which is also part of her support committee, said: "This is the first time we are saying that she is between life and death, that there is a risk of death."

"We must act before it is too late," he added.

Mohammadi, who has spent much of the past two decades in and out of prison for her activism, was arrested most recently in December after denouncing Iranian authorities at a funeral for a lawyer.

Already suffering from a heart condition, she had two suspected heart attacks on March 24 and May 1 in prison in Zanjan in northern Iran, according to her supporters.

After the most recent incident, she was rushed to hospital in Zanjan for treatment but remains under constant guard, Ardakani said.

Mohammadi is experiencing an "unprecedented degradation" of her health, said Ardakani.

"We have never been so afraid for Narges's life; she could leave us at any moment," she added.

Mohammadi has lost 20 kilograms (44 pounds) in prison, has difficulty speaking and is currently "unrecognizable" from her former state before her latest arrest.

Her supporters want Mohammadi to be transferred to Tehran for treatment by her personal medical team but there has been no sign of her being moved from Zanjan.

Mohammadi's twin teenage children and her husband live in Paris and Ardakani urged the French foreign ministry and President Emmanuel Macron to take a tougher line on her case.

"We are expecting the president of the republic (Macron) to take a strong position. I don't think this is something excessive," she said.


Macron Says US and EU Are Wasting Time on Tariff Threats as Trump Fumes Over Germany

France's President Emmanuel Macron is greeted by people in Gyumri on May 5, 2026. (AFP)
France's President Emmanuel Macron is greeted by people in Gyumri on May 5, 2026. (AFP)
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Macron Says US and EU Are Wasting Time on Tariff Threats as Trump Fumes Over Germany

France's President Emmanuel Macron is greeted by people in Gyumri on May 5, 2026. (AFP)
France's President Emmanuel Macron is greeted by people in Gyumri on May 5, 2026. (AFP)

Europe and the United States have more important things to do than waste time on tariff threats, French President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday, after President Donald Trump announced higher duties on European vehicles.

Trump said on Friday that he would increase the tariffs charged on cars and trucks from the European Union this week to 25%, a move that could further harm the global economy as it reels from war in the Middle East.

“Especially in the geopolitical period we are experiencing, allies like the United States of America and the European Union have much better things to do than to stir up threats of destabilization,” Macron told reporters in Armenia.

“For our businesses, our households, our populations, we should rather send a message of stability and confidence,” Macron said. He added that he hoped “reason will prevail soon.”

EU and US trade officials were due to meet in Paris on Tuesday to discuss the issue.

Trump accused the EU of “not complying with our fully agreed to Trade Deal,” without elaborating.

The threat of tariffs comes as Trump fumes over remarks by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who said the US has been humiliated by Iran in talks to end the war. Germany is a major automobile manufacturer, and higher tariffs would damage its industry.

Trump has since threatened to pull thousands of US troops out of Germany.

Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed to a trade deal in July 2025 that set a tariff ceiling of 15% on most goods, though the US Supreme Court this year ruled against the legal authority that Trump had used to charge that tax.

Asked at the EU-Armenia summit in Yerevan on Tuesday about the threat of another tariff hike, von der Leyen said: “A deal is a deal, and we have a deal. And the essence of this deal is prosperity, common rules and reliability.”

The commission, the EU’s executive branch, negotiates trade on behalf of the 27 member countries. Von der Leyen said that “we are prepared for every scenario” if things go wrong.

Macron insisted that agreements must be respected. “If they were challenged again, it would reopen everything,” he said, and warned that “the European Union has instruments that would then need to be activated.”