Rubio Orders Iranian Delegation To Leave US After Talks Stall, Axios Reports

ERBIL (Kurdistan24) - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordered the Iranian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly to leave the United States immediately after diplomatic efforts to broker an end to the war reached a stalemate, Axios reported, citing a US official and a second source familiar with the matter.

Among those ordered to leave New York was Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Rubio’s Iranian counterpart, as efforts involving Qatari mediators failed to produce a breakthrough between Washington and Tehran.

According to Axios, Qatari mediators attempted to secure a diplomatic breakthrough between the United States and Iran but made little progress, with neither side willing to change its position.

The report said the White House initially believed on Monday morning that progress might be possible later in the day. By late afternoon, however, it had become clear that the negotiations had reached a stalemate.

Later that evening, at Rubio’s direction, the US mission to the United Nations informed the Iranian mission that Araghchi’s delegation had to leave New York immediately, according to the US official cited by Axios.

The official described the move as a response to the Iranian delegation having overstayed its welcome after the UN General Assembly had concluded.

“Secretary Rubio kicked out the Iranian delegation who had overstayed their welcome. The UN General Assembly was over, so it was time for them to go,” the US official said, according to Axios.

The Iranian delegation, including Araghchi, left for the airport several hours after receiving the order and boarded a flight from New York to Doha at 1:20 a.m. Tuesday, according to the report.

A second source confirmed that the United States had demanded that the Iranian delegation leave the country. However, the source said Araghchi had already been scheduled to return to Tehran on Monday night.

Axios described Rubio’s move as an unusual diplomatic rebuke that underscored the deep distrust between Washington and Tehran amid unsuccessful efforts to negotiate an end to the war.

Despite the setback, Qatari mediators are continuing to communicate with both sides over a compromise proposal, according to regional sources cited by Axios.

The diplomatic efforts come as US President Donald Trump has continued to signal that Washington is approaching a decisive point in its confrontation with Tehran.

Asked by reporters on Wednesday how a deal could be reached with what he described as a difficult Iranian regime, Trump said: “Maybe I will blow ’em up. Maybe I blow ’em up. We have to make that decision. We will blow ’em up or make a deal. But the time is coming. It’s gonna end very soon one way or the other.”

The latest diplomatic developments leave Qatari mediators continuing their efforts while Washington and Tehran remain divided over the terms of a possible agreement.