Tommy Pigott, a spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said in explaining the restrictions imposed on officials of the Islamic Republic in New York that Washington will not allow them to use the UN General Assembly to make luxury purchases at the same time as Iran’s people face economic problems. Pigott wrote on X: “While the people of Iran are grappling with repression, water and electricity shortages, and inflation, government officials want to make luxury purchases. In our time, such a thing will not happen.” He added: “We will not allow officials of the Iranian government to use the UN General Assembly for luxury purchases—purchases whose costs are provided by the suffering of the Iranian people, while the government uses Iran’s wealth to support its terrorist proxy forces.” The U.S. State Department had previously announced that officials of the Islamic Republic’s mission at the United Nations, visiting officials, and their dependents would not be allowed to purchase luxury goods or become members of wholesale stores. In explaining the reason for the continuation of these restrictions, Pigott also asked sellers in the New York area to be careful and not participate in violating these prohibitions.