Over the past few months, a lot has happened in America, and now diplomats have been banned from shopping at Costco. The United States government issued a ban on the Iranian diplomats that will prevent them from buying products at local wholesalers. This might seem like a drastic thing to do, but the government has its reasons why this big decision was made.
The US Government’s big decision
The Trump administration made a big decision to ban certain officials from shopping at Costco. Their main focus was on blocking Iranian diplomats from accessing the “wholesale club stores” such as Costco. According to the State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott, these officials were also prevented from purchasing luxury goods while they were in the United States.
The Iranian diplomats are visiting New York for the annual UN General Assembly. They are also restricted “to the areas strictly necessary to transit to and from the UN headquarters district to conduct their official UN business,” as indicated by Pigott in a statement on Monday. The United States government placed certain restrictions and bans on the Iranian delegation’s movements in the past.
In addition, in a scheduled notice that will soon be published in the Federal Register, the State Department indicated that Iranian officials, should obtain approval to have a membership. This includes those officials who are stationed at the Iranian Mission in New York. Only then, they will be allowed to purchase items “at any wholesale club store in the United States, to include but not limited to Costco, Sam’s Club, or BJ’s Wholesale Club” as said by Pigott.
The reason for the Costco ban of the diplomats
The fact that Wholesale stores have products available in bulk and at competitive prices will prevent Iranians from stocking up on products that are not generally available in their home country. This practice is which is under crippling sanctions.
It has been stated that these Iranian diplomats should also receive permission to purchase “luxury items.” Some of these luxury items are valued at over $1,000, and it often include products such as watches, leather and silk apparel, furs, jewellery, perfumes, electronics, and alcohol, as well as cars valued over $60,000.
Pigott made a statement on Monday where he stated, “We will not allow the Iranian regime to allow its clerical elites to have a shopping spree in New York while the Iranian people endure poverty, crumbling infrastructure, and dire shortages of water and electricity.”
The Trump Administration
Of the ban and the movement restriction are not all for the Iranian officials, the Trump administration also blocked the visas of officials from the Palestinian Authority, including President Mahmoud Abbas. These individuals were unable to attend the two-state conference which were set to occur on Monday.
In addition, the Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, is expected to lead the Iranian delegation who are traveling to the New York for an annual assembly. This comes amid the looming re-imposition of all United Nations sanctions lifted under the Iran nuclear deal.
According to Pigott the safety and security of the American citizens will always be their priority. Therefore, the United States will not allow the Iranian regime to use UNGA as an excuse to travel freely in New York as a means to promote its terrorist agenda. Also, this is why there has been a ban on these officials’ movements and what they can purchase and where.
Pigott further alluded to the fact that, “By preventing Iranian regime officials from exploiting diplomatic travel to the UN as a means to obtain goods unavailable to the Iranian public, we are sending a clear message: When the United States says it stands with the people of Iran, we mean it.” Thus, this commitment the United States is indicating today, portray the country’s support for the Iranian citizens. As these citizens are busy with their pursuit of accountability for the regime and for a better life, the US will continue to support them.