Key Takeaways
- Tightened Controls: Iranian diplomats in New York must now seek State Department approval to shop at bulk retailers like Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s.
- Luxury Limits: Officials and their families are restricted from purchasing luxury goods over $1,000 and vehicles priced above $60,000 without clearance.
- Pressure Campaign: The move is part of President Trump’s broader effort to hold Tehran accountable, sending a message that diplomatic privileges are not a license to skirt U.S. sanctions.
The Trump administration has once again reminded Tehran that American hospitality isn’t a blank check. This week, the State Department announced new restrictions on Iranian diplomats posted to or visiting New York—rules so strict that even a trip to Costco now requires government approval.
According to notices set to appear in the Federal Register, wholesale club memberships like Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s are now considered a “benefit” for Iranian officials, requiring explicit permission from the State Department’s Office of Foreign Missions. The crackdown doesn’t stop there. Iranian diplomats must also seek approval before splurging on luxury goods worth more than $1,000 or purchasing vehicles over $60,000.
Clifton Seagroves, head of the Office of Foreign Missions, laid it out plainly: the days of Iranian envoys stockpiling bulk goods or slipping luxury items back home are over. The banned categories include watches, leather and silk apparel, handbags, wallets, perfumes, art, antiques, and even high-end carpets.
The timing is no accident. With world leaders descending on New York for the United Nations General Assembly, the Trump team is doubling down on its maximum pressure campaign against Tehran. This follows other tough measures, including visa denials for Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas and threats of similar restrictions on delegations from Sudan, Zimbabwe, and Brazil.
By slapping limits on both everyday bulk shopping and high-end luxuries, the Trump administration is making one thing clear: America won’t subsidize foreign officials who abuse their privileges while their regimes undermine global security.