US Expels Two Iranian Diplomats, Axios Reports
The United States has expelled two Iranian diplomats after they violated an official order to depart the country following the conclusion of the UN General Assembly session, according to a report by Axios citing a U.S. official. The Department of State originally instructed the diplomats, who were part of Iran’s delegation, to leave New York after the assembly ended. Following confirmation of their continued presence, Washington reissued an immediate departure order on Friday, leading to one diplomat leaving late Friday night and the second departing early Saturday morning.
Iran, however, firmly contested the U.S. government’s account regarding the sudden expulsion of its delegation members. According to officials in Tehran, the two diplomats did not defy any directives and instead departed the United States strictly in accordance with their original pre-scheduled itinerary. Iranian representatives further emphasized that formal prior notice regarding these travel arrangements had already been provided to the relevant U.S. authorities well before their scheduled departure from the country.
Meanwhile, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth signaled that military pressure on Iran would persist amidst rising geopolitical friction. He stated that President Donald Trump had offered Tehran multiple opportunities to reach a diplomatic agreement, but warned that the U.S. would take firm measures if necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Addressing maritime disputes, Mr. Hegseth asserted, “While Tehran claims control over the vital waterway, effective control currently rests with the United States,” and confirmed that sanctions remain fully enforced.
Against this backdrop, military tensions persist in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding maritime waters. Iranian state media reported that a powerful explosion struck an oil tanker in the strait on Saturday, while air defense systems concurrently intercepted a “hostile” reconnaissance aircraft over Qeshm Island. While neither incident could be independently verified, these developments underscore the ongoing volatile military posture in the region between both nations.
Source: Axios
