Iran US talks in New York have continued amid conflicting signals from Washington and Tehran, with Iran denying that it has abandoned its conditions while President Donald Trump described a three-hour meeting as “very productive.”
The discussions between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and were mediated by Qatar.
Trump said the discussions had gone well and suggested that further talks could take place soon, while Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Tehran had used the meeting to communicate its existing conditions rather than abandon them.
Iran US Talks Continue Through Qatar Mediation
The latest Iran US talks represent the first direct diplomatic contact between senior officials from the two countries in months, following the collapse of an earlier ceasefire and memorandum of understanding.
Witkoff described the latest discussions as “encouraging, constructive and successful,” while Trump said there was momentum towards a possible agreement.
Trump had earlier told the UN General Assembly that he faced a major decision over whether to pursue an agreement with Iran or take further military action.
The US president said: “Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before?… Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly.”
Despite the harsh language, his subsequent comments indicated that diplomatic contacts were continuing.
Tehran Says Its Conditions Remain
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei confirmed that Iranian and American representatives had interacted through Qatari mediation.
Baghaei said the discussions were intended to communicate Tehran’s conditions, including an end to the war, cessation of US military actions, removal of the naval blockade and an end to economic warfare.
He said Iran had also demanded the release of Iranian assets.
“The interaction that took place with the American side was through Qatari mediation,” Baghaei said.
“This interaction was aimed at conveying Iran’s conditions, including the end of the war in all its dimensions, the cessation of American aggressive actions, the naval siege, and the economic war, the release of Iranian assets and so on.”
His comments indicated that Tehran had not publicly accepted a change in its negotiating position.
Strait of Hormuz Remains Central
The Strait of Hormuz remains one of the main issues surrounding the negotiations because of its importance to international energy shipments.
Iran has indicated that the waterway could be reopened within seven days if Washington takes steps to reduce military pressure and lift its blockade on Iranian ports. Reuters separately reported that an Iranian official said Tehran was prepared to reopen the strait within a week if those conditions were met.
The waterway connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and is a major route for global oil and gas transportation.
The Guardian reported that Iran’s negotiating position includes questions over how commercial vessels would navigate the strait and who would control or provide navigation services.
The issue has become increasingly important as the conflict has disrupted shipping and contributed to uncertainty in global energy markets.
Oil Prices React to Diplomatic Developments
The prospect of further negotiations also affected oil markets.
The price of Brent crude fell below $100 a barrel for the first time in two weeks after reports of the three-hour discussions and Trump’s comments suggesting that another round of talks could follow.
The market reaction reflected expectations that a diplomatic agreement could potentially reduce disruption to energy supplies, although the negotiations remained unresolved.
The Strait of Hormuz therefore remains both a diplomatic issue and an important factor in the global energy market.
Trump Signals More Talks With Iran
Trump said the meeting involving his envoys had been productive and suggested that the diplomatic process could continue.
Reuters reported that Trump said he believed there was “a lot of momentum” towards a deal following the discussions.
The US president’s remarks came only hours after he used his UN speech to threaten severe military action against Iran if an agreement was not reached.
The contrasting messages have left the diplomatic process operating alongside continued military pressure and public threats.
Iranian officials, meanwhile, have continued to insist that any agreement would need to address the conditions Tehran has presented through mediators.
Pezeshkian Arrives for UN Address
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in New York for the UN General Assembly as the diplomatic contacts were taking place.
Pezeshkian has previously supported negotiations with Washington and has maintained that an earlier memorandum of understanding should provide a starting point for further discussions.
That agreement subsequently broke down after Washington and Tehran accused each other of violating its terms, including disagreements over the control and operation of the Strait of Hormuz.
Pezeshkian was expected to use his UN address to present Iran’s position on the conflict and criticise what Tehran describes as US and Israeli military actions against Iran.
Iran Faces Military and Economic Pressure
The diplomatic discussions are taking place while Iran faces significant pressure from US sanctions and restrictions on its oil exports.
The reported naval blockade has also affected Iran’s ability to export energy and obtain foreign currency.
At the same time, Iranian civilian aviation has faced additional pressure from US sanctions targeting the country’s aviation sector.
Iranian officials have been working with neighbouring countries over continued air connections as restrictions on Iranian airlines have intensified.
Take this survey: https://ireport247news.com/2027-oyo-governorship-poll/
These economic measures form part of the broader dispute that Tehran says must be addressed before it will agree to a comprehensive settlement.
Regional Conflict Adds Pressure
The negotiations are also taking place against the backdrop of wider fighting across the Middle East.
The conflict involving Iran has affected the security of shipping routes in the Persian Gulf and Red Sea, while fighting in Yemen has intensified between Houthi forces and Saudi-backed government forces.
The Houthis’ control and activity around the Bab al-Mandab strait have added another concern for commercial shipping and energy transportation.
Gulf states have also been involved in diplomatic efforts aimed at protecting regional security and restoring freedom of navigation.
Reuters reported that Gulf states were examining proposals for a regional security framework involving Iran and Arab Gulf countries, with Qatar playing a role in the diplomatic discussions.
European Leaders Criticise Regional War
The Iran crisis also featured prominently in speeches by European and Arab leaders at the UN General Assembly.
French President Emmanuel Macron criticised efforts to change governments through military action, saying such attempts could lead to greater instability.
“Every time a few states, sometimes even in the name of international order, have tried to replace the people in order to change a regime or a system, they have plunged those states into even greater chaos,” Macron said.
Jordan’s King Abdullah II also criticised Israel’s conduct of the war in Gaza and called for greater international accountability over the situation there.
The differing positions expressed at the UN illustrate the wider diplomatic divisions surrounding the conflicts in the Middle East.
What Comes Next for Iran US Talks?
The immediate future of the Iran US talks remains dependent on whether Washington and Tehran can narrow their differences over the war, sanctions, the naval blockade, Iran’s assets and navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Read also: Andy Burnham Chagos deal: UK Prime Minister to review agreement after Trump criticism
The latest discussions have reopened a diplomatic channel, but neither side has publicly announced a final agreement or confirmed that its fundamental conditions have changed.
Trump has indicated that further discussions could happen soon, while Iranian officials have stressed that their conditions were communicated during the latest contact.
The next stage of negotiations will therefore determine whether the three-hour meeting develops into a broader diplomatic process or remains a limited exchange through mediators.
