The United States and Iran have held several hours of indirect talks through intermediaries on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, but opinions differ on whether officials from both countries have met in person.
U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff said mediators were “going back and forth” between the U.S. and Iranian delegations throughout Tuesday.
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“Today, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, we held lengthy talks with the Iranian delegation through intermediaries who travel between the two countries throughout the day,” Witkoff said in a post on X.
“They have successfully completed a series of consultations and are hopeful of a constructive and encouraging outcome. The mediator will continue to work.”
US President Donald Trump offered a more direct explanation, saying Witkoff and Jared Kushner had a three-hour meeting with Iranian officials.
“It was a very good meeting, a very productive meeting,” Trump told reporters at the United Nations, adding that he believed there was “huge momentum” toward a deal. President Trump later said talks were continuing and he believed a settlement would eventually be reached.
Al Jazeera’s Kimberly Halkett, reporting from Washington, said President Trump’s initial remarks caused confusion over who was in attendance. He said the White House later clarified that Trump would not be attending and that Witkoff and Kushner would represent the U.S. side.
Al Jazeera’s Tohid al-Asadi, reporting from Tehran, said state media confirmed the meeting between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragushi and Witkov, who had not had direct contact for several weeks.
Assadi said, “This meeting was held at the request and insistence of the US side, and was specifically aimed at conveying Iran’s message and conditions regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.”
Iranian state media said the conditions include lifting the U.S. naval blockade, releasing frozen Iranian assets and ending the war with what Tehran calls the “resistance” front.
Assadi also reported that Iranian security sources told Al Jazeera that there may be scope for further diplomatic engagement if the US meets Iran’s conditions and commitments.
The contacts came after a senior Iranian official told Reuters that the Iranian government’s delegation in New York had full authority to conduct diplomacy and that the UN gathering was a “perfect opportunity” for the US to return to negotiations.
The official said Iran had submitted an updated proposal to the US government through a mediator on September 16, and details of a deal to end hostilities could be discussed in New York.
The official also said Iran could reopen Hormuz within seven days if the US eases military pressure and lifts the Iranian port blockade.
Regional powers promote détente
Indirect negotiations have been accompanied by extensive diplomatic efforts involving Gulf states and other regional countries.
Qatar said it is working with Pakistan to reduce tensions between the United States and Iran, protect freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and promote regional stability.
Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani also met with Araghchi in New York on Tuesday.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said they discussed regional development, efforts to de-escalate tensions and ways to create conditions for dialogue.
Oman is also involved in maritime diplomacy over the waterway, having previously held talks with Tehran on a maritime agreement aimed at facilitating navigation through the strait.
President Trump also met with leaders and senior officials from Gulf Cooperation Council countries, Turkiye, Jordan, Syria and Iraq on Tuesday to discuss Iran and regional security.
Qatar’s proposal for a common security framework involving Iran and Gulf states is on the table, and a regional source said Tehran was considering it, according to Reuters.
Qatar has not made the proposal public.
Talks to begin after President Trump’s warning
The indirect talks came hours after President Trump combined the possibility of a deal with fresh warnings of military escalation in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly.
President Trump said he was faced with a “big decision” between reaching a deal that would allow Iran to rebuild or moving forward with “annihilating the Islamic Republic.” He also said the United States had previously offered Iran “full economic cooperation” in return for halting Iran’s nuclear program and what the United States described as Iran’s support for terrorism.
Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff and Khatam al-Anbiya Central Command responded in a statement carried by Iranian media, saying Trump’s threat was evidence of “strategic weakness” and that Iran was ready to inflict “more severe, devastating and unpredictable blows” in response to further attacks.
U.S. officials have repeatedly indicated that negotiations are progressing since the memorandum of understanding collapsed in June. In early August, President Trump said the two sides had reached terms for a potential agreement, later saying that talks over Hormuz were “making good progress” but that major differences remained. Earlier this month, he reiterated that he hoped the war was “coming to an end.”
Tehran continues to condition the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz on the easing of U.S. military pressure and the lifting of Iranian port blockades, but Witkoff said mediators would continue their efforts following Tuesday’s mediation exchanges.
