The Trump administration is intensifying its visa restrictions, targeting delegations from Iran, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and, unexpectedly, Brazil for the UN General Assembly commencing September 22, 2025, according to an internal State Department memo obtained by The Associated Press. This follows the denial of visas to Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas and his delegation for the high-level meeting, signaling a broader crackdown that includes reviewing existing visa permissions and imposing new travel limits for attendees.

A notable proposal would further restrict Iranian diplomats, already limited in their New York movements, by barring them from shopping at wholesale stores like Costco and Sam’s Club without explicit State Department approval. These stores are popular among Iranian diplomats for purchasing bulk goods unavailable in Iran’s isolated economy.

The memo also suggests potential rules to regulate wholesale club memberships for all foreign diplomats in the U.S., though the timeline for implementation remains unclear. For Brazil, traditionally honored as the first speaker at the UN General Assembly, the memo does not specify whether restrictions would affect President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva or lower-level delegates, amid tensions over Brazil’s prosecution of Trump ally Jair Bolsonaro.

In contrast, Syria’s delegation has been granted a waiver from long-standing travel restrictions, reflecting the Trump administration’s efforts to engage with Syria following the ouster of Bashar Assad in 2024. Specific restrictions for Sudanese and Zimbabwean delegations were not detailed. The State Department has not commented on the proposals, which remain under consideration and could shift, but they underscore a significant escalation in U.S. visa policy as the UN meeting approaches.

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