As with President Abbas.. America is considering imposing restrictions on Iran's delegation during United Nations meetings

SadaNews - The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump is considering imposing restrictions on several delegations scheduled to participate in a high-level United Nations meeting this month, which would severely limit their ability to travel outside New York City.

The administration has already refused to issue visas for Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and his accompanying delegation.

According to an internal memo from the State Department reviewed by the Associated Press, potential travel restrictions and other limitations could soon be imposed on delegations from Iran, Sudan, Zimbabwe, and possibly unexpectedly, Brazil during the high-level leaders' gathering at the United Nations General Assembly that begins on September 22.

While the potential restrictions are still under consideration, and circumstances may change, the proposals would be another step in the Trump administration's visa campaign, including a wide-ranging review of those who already hold legal permits to enter the United States and those seeking to enter the country to attend the United Nations meeting.

Strict limits are imposed on the movements of Iranian diplomats in New York, but one proposed measure is to prevent them from shopping at members-only wholesale stores, such as Costco and Sam's Club, without first obtaining explicit permission from the State Department.

These stores have long been favored by Iranian diplomats assigned to or visiting New York, as they can purchase large quantities of goods not available in economically isolated Iran at relatively cheap prices and send them back to their country.

It is still unclear whether the proposed shopping ban for Iran will take effect and when, but the memo stated that the State Department is also exploring drafting rules that would allow it to impose terms and conditions on memberships in wholesale clubs for all foreign diplomats in the United States.

As for Brazil, it is unclear whether any potential visa restrictions will affect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva or the lower-ranking members of the country's delegation to the high-level UN gathering.

The Brazilian president is traditionally the first world leader to speak in front of the convened leaders on the opening day of the session. It is customary for the President of the United States to be the second speaker.

Lula has been a target of the U.S. president, who opposes the prosecution of his friend, former president Jair Bolsonaro, for leading an attempted coup.

One country that will see fewer restrictions is Syria; its delegation members received an exemption from travel restrictions imposed on them for the United Nations for over a decade.

Although Sudan and Zimbabwe were mentioned as potential targets, the memo did not specify what restrictions might be imposed on their delegations.