The United States has barred Iranian officials attending the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York from bulk shopping and luxury purchases.
Washington described the move as part of its ongoing “maximum pressure” campaign against Tehran.
According to a notice published in the Federal Register on Tuesday, Iranian diplomats and visiting officials can no longer shop at major wholesale stores such as Costco, Sam’s Club, and BJ’s Wholesale Club.
The directive also forces them to seek special permission from the State Department before buying luxury goods.
The restricted items include watches, electronics, and fountain pens valued at over $1,000, as well as vehicles priced above $60,000.
A report by AFP, cited by France24, confirmed the restrictions.
State Department spokesman Thomas Pigott defended the order.
He said the U.S. will not allow Iranian clerics and elites to enjoy shopping privileges while ordinary citizens back home face poverty, crumbling infrastructure, and shortages of basic utilities.
The move comes at a tense moment in U.S.-Iran relations.
Iran’s economy has suffered under harsh American sanctions that limit access to essential goods and cripple oil exports, its primary source of revenue.
Since taking office earlier this year, President Donald Trump has pursued a hardline strategy against Iran’s nuclear program.
In June, his administration ordered airstrikes on three nuclear facilities, further escalating tensions between both nations.
Analysts say the shopping restrictions are largely symbolic but serve as another signal of Washington’s determination to isolate Iran’s leadership both diplomatically and economically.