Inside Tehran's Security Calculus For Pezeshkian's High-Risk New York Trip

Iranian officials should avoid taking helicopters while they are in New York City attending this week's UN General Assembly. Iranians might recall the May 19, 2024 death of President Ebrahim Raisi. His military helicopter went down in a rugged, mountainous area of northwestern Iran, under circumstances which are still somewhat mysterious and subject to speculation.

State media is warning that President Masoud Pezeshkian's New York trip is high risk. It was surprising that Washington granted him and his top officials visas in the first place, also after denying visas for Palestinian Authority President Abbas and his team. However, some serious restrictions on the delegation's movement are still in place, and it will be shadowed by the Secret Service, among other US agencies.