Iran-born Ellie Cohanim joins US UN Mission as senior policy advisor, UN ambassador announces

The United States Mission to the United Nations has appointed Ellie Cohanim as its Senior Policy Advisor, a move announced by UN Ambassador Mike Waltz. Cohanim, who was born in Tehran, brings a unique perspective shaped by her family's flight from Iran following the 1979 Islamic Revolution and their subsequent rebuilding of lives in New York.

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Ellie’s story is the American story. Her family’s story has shaped her lifelong commitment to freedom, human dignity, and American leadership.

Ambassador Waltz emphasized Cohanim's personal story as embodying the "American story" and fueling a lifelong commitment to freedom, human dignity, and American leadership. He noted her extensive diplomatic experience, including her previous role as deputy special envoy to combat antisemitism and her instrumental work on the Abraham Accords' “Warm Peace” team, which fostered partnerships with Arab nations.

"Few know the Iranian regime like Ellie," Waltz stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter). "Born in Tehran, raised in Queens, just like President Trump, she’s a fighter. For America. Against antisemitism. For our freedom. Glad to have her in the fight." He described her appointment as a reflection of the conviction and courage essential for the United Nations.

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Few know the Iranian regime like Ellie. Born in Tehran, raised in Queens, just like President Trump, she’s a fighter. For America. Against antisemitism. For our freedom. Glad to have her in the fight.

Cohanim has a background in media and has been a vocal advocate against the Iranian regime. She has also used her platforms to raise awareness about the global rise of antisemitism, appearing as a foreign policy expert on various television programs. Additionally, she holds a Senior Fellow role at the Independent Women's Forum and served on the Trump-Vance Presidential Transition's National Security/State Department Team.

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She has since dedicated her career to serving the United States by defending freedom, supporting persecuted communities, and speaking out against antisemitism. He described her appointment as reflecting the kind of conviction and courage needed at the United Nations.