Scoop: Rubio ordered Iranian delegation to leave the country, U.S. official says

Secretary of State Marco Rubio demanded on Monday that the Iranian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly immediately leave the country after negotiations stalled, according to a U.S. official and a second source with knowledge of the matter. Why it matters: Though the Iranians were likely to depart soon anyway, Rubio's move was a highly unusual diplomatic rebuke and laid bare the deep distrust between the two countries amid fruitless efforts to broker an end to the war. Qatari mediators tried to secure a diplomatic breakthrough between the U.S. and Iran but made little progress, with neither side willing to budge. Among those ordered to leave New York was Rubio's Iranian counterpart, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. What they're saying: "Secretary Rubio kicked out the Iranian delegation who had overstayed their welcome. The UN General Assembly was over, so it was time for them to go," the U.S. official said. Behind the scenes: On Monday morning, the White House thought there might be progress in talks with Iran later in the day. But by late afternoon it became clear negotiations were at a stalemate. Then on Monday evening, at Rubio's orders, the U.S. mission to the UN told the Iranian mission to the UN that Araghchi's delegation had to leave New York immediately, according to the U.S. official. The Iranian delegation, including Araghchi, left for the airport several hours later and boarded a flight from New York to Doha at 1:20 a.m. Tuesday. A second source confirmed that the U.S. demanded that the Iranian delegation leave, but said Araghchi was scheduled to travel back to Tehran on Monday night anyway. What's next: Qatari mediators are continuing to talk to both sides about their compromise proposal, regional sources say. "Maybe I will blow 'em up," President Trump told reporters on Wednesday when asked how he can reach a deal with a regime he says is crazy. "Maybe I blow 'em up. We have to make that decision. We will blow 'em up or make a deal. But the time is coming. It's gonna end very soon one way or the other."

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