NeW YORK Sept 21, 2026 – Araghchi was welcomed at John F. Kennedy International Airport by Gholamhossein Darzi, Iran’s permanent representative and chargé d’affaires to the United Nations. Video footage circulated by Iranian state media and accounts such as BRICS News showed the foreign minister and members of his delegation arriving in white SUVs, walking past NYPD barriers, and entering a New York building.
En route, Araghchi made a brief stop in Doha, where he held consultations with Qatari officials on the latest regional developments. Qatar has previously played a role in efforts to facilitate dialogue between Tehran and Washington.
President Masoud Pezeshkian is scheduled to travel to New York on Tuesday to address the General Assembly and hold meetings with world leaders on the sidelines. The 81st UNGA high-level week is taking place under the theme of rebuilding trust, with discussions expected to cover regional conflicts, among other global issues.
The visit occurs nearly seven months after joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes in late February 2026 that killed then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and other senior officials. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was subsequently appointed as successor by Iran’s Assembly of Experts in March and was himself injured in the attacks. Reports on the extent of those injuries have varied, with Iranian officials describing them as limited while some international accounts have described more serious wounds; Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly since assuming the role.
The U.S. approved visas for Iran’s core delegation, including the president and foreign minister, despite the two countries remaining in a state of conflict. The delegation faces travel restrictions in New York and prohibitions on certain purchases. Some members of the Iranian party, including parts of the president’s media team, were denied visas.
On social media, reactions to Araghchi’s arrival highlighted the unusual nature of a senior Iranian official traveling to the United States under current circumstances. Comments on the BRICS News post noted the perceived risk involved. Iran has framed its participation as an opportunity to present its positions on what it describes as U.S.-Israeli aggression and to pursue diplomacy through multilateral forums.
Araghchi is expected to hold a series of meetings with counterparts during the high-level week as Tehran seeks to engage on regional issues.
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