
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday ordered the Iranian delegation to the United Nations to leave the US immediately after negotiations between Washington and Tehran stalled, according to a US official and another source briefed on the matter.
The decision was an unusual diplomatic move and shows the high level of mistrust between the two countries, at a time when efforts to reach an agreement to end the war were not producing results. Among the Iranian delegation ordered to leave was Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Rubio's counterpart.
According to sources, on Monday morning the White House was still hopeful that there could be progress in the negotiations during the day. However, by Monday afternoon it became clear that the talks had reached an impasse. That evening, on Rubio's orders, the US mission to the UN informed the Iranian delegation that it should leave New York immediately.
The delegation, including Araghchi, left for the airport a few hours later and took a flight from New York to Doha at 1:20 a.m. Tuesday. A second source confirmed that the U.S. had requested the delegation's departure, but clarified that Araghchi had planned to return to Tehran that night anyway.
Meanwhile, Qatari mediators are continuing contacts with both sides in an attempt to find a compromise. So far, neither the US nor Iran has shown a willingness to make the concessions required for an agreement.
President Donald Trump, speaking about the possibility of a deal with Iran, said that the US administration faces a choice between reaching a deal and using force, warning that the decision will be made soon.