The Trump administration has expelled Iranian Deputy Ambassador to the UN Saadat Aghajani over national security concerns, according to a new report.
Axios detailed that the decision took place in December but was kept in secret at the time. It part of other such decisions over the past six months. Overall, at least three diplomats have been expelled from New York City in this time period.
The outlet went on to note that the State Department sent an official note to the Iranian Mission to the UN saying Aghajani should leave immediately under "section 13 procedures," which are designed for quiet expulsions, in contrast with public statements such as declaring people "persona non grata." His two children, who had remained in the country, were asked to leave in February.
The procedures are usually used for diplomats accusing of espionage or acting against U.S. interests or national security, Axios said.
We can confirm that the United States delivered a Note Verbale on December 4 regarding the status of certain Iranian personnel at the UN. For privacy and security reasons, we do not comment on the specifics of diplomatic personnel actions," a U.S. official said.
Elsewhere, the outlet noted that the State Department limited the movements of Iranian diplomats to a radius of 25 miles from central Manhattan, where the UN headquarters are located. At least one of those expelled violated the limit multiple times.
