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- Trump said Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held a three-hour meeting with an Iranian delegation, with further talks expected soon through mediators.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly represented Tehran, and discussions focused on reopening the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
- Iran said reopening Hormuz depends on lifting the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, releasing frozen assets, and ending the war across all fronts.
- Trump said a deal could come after November elections, but he would not let the electoral calendar determine his approach to Iran.
US-Iran talks resumed on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, with President Donald Trump saying the discussions were “very good” while again warning that Iran could face severe consequences without a deal.
The renewed contacts came hours after Trump told world leaders that he faced a choice between reaching an agreement with Tehran and “annihilating” the Islamic Republic.
Talks resume after June breakdown
Trump said US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held a three-hour meeting with an Iranian delegation and that further discussions would take place “in the very near future”. Witkoff confirmed that lengthy talks had taken place through mediators who moved between the US and Iranian delegations during the day.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was reported to have represented Tehran. Iranian state media said the discussions focused in particular on conditions for reopening the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
The latest US-Iran talks follow the collapse of an understanding reached in June. Washington has since indicated that negotiations could resume, while major differences between the two sides have remained.
Iran sets conditions for reopening Hormuz
According to Iranian state media, Araghchi told Witkoff that Tehran’s conditions included the immediate lifting of the US naval blockade of Iranian ports, the release of frozen Iranian assets and an end to the war across all fronts.
Iran has linked the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to a reduction in US military pressure. The waterway is a major route for global energy shipments, making its continued disruption a significant factor in regional and international markets.
Trump links possible deal to November elections
Trump said a deal could potentially be reached after the US midterm elections in November. He also argued that Iran was watching the outcome of the elections, while saying he would not allow the electoral calendar to determine his approach to Tehran.
The conflict has also contributed to higher fuel prices, an issue with domestic political implications in the United States ahead of the elections.
Trump mixes diplomacy with threats
In his UN General Assembly address, Trump combined calls for a possible agreement with threats against Iran.
He said Washington had offered Tehran economic cooperation in exchange for an end to its nuclear programme and warned that the alternative could be the destruction of the Islamic Republic. Reuters reported that Trump presented the issue as a choice between a deal and annihilation.
Despite the confrontational rhetoric, the renewed talks indicate that diplomatic contacts between Washington and Tehran are continuing. Witkoff said mediators would continue their work following Tuesday’s discussions.
Wider foreign policy agenda
Trump’s UN speech also covered Venezuela, Cuba, Ukraine, Greenland and US policy in the Western Hemisphere.
He expressed confidence that an agreement between Russia and Ukraine could be reached, although he did not provide details. He also announced a security agreement involving the US, Denmark and Greenland, while the issue of possible US control or annexation of Greenland was not included in the agreement.
The Iranian delegation walked out during Trump’s criticism of Tehran, according to reports on the address.
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