The U.S. restricted Iranian diplomats from shopping at Costco and buying luxury goods without permission.
The Trump administration has barred Iranian diplomats in New York from shopping at wholesale clubs like Costco and from purchasing luxury goods in the U.S. without prior approval from the State Department.
Officials said the move prevents regime elites from accessing products unavailable to ordinary Iranians. “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,” the State Department said.
The restrictions, published in the Federal Register, require Iranian diplomats and their dependents to obtain approval before joining wholesale clubs or buying goods such as watches, furs, jewelry, handbags, perfumes, alcohol, and vehicles over $60,000. Costco and similar stores have long been favored by Iranian diplomats for bulk purchases sent home. The measures coincide with the U.N. General Assembly, though they will apply year-round.