US and Iranian officials held around three hours of talks in New York on Tuesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, with Qatar mediating between the two sides. US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were involved in the discussions.
US President Donald Trump said the talks went well and that another meeting between the two sides would take place soon.
According to The Guardian, a senior Iranian official said Tehran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the US takes steps to reduce military and economic pressure on Iran.
Witkoff and Araghchi did not meet face-to-face
The discussions were not held as a direct meeting between Witkoff and Araghchi. Witkoff initially said he felt good about the talks but later clarified that he had not met Iranian officials directly.
Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner also participated in the discussions.
Witkoff said the talks were conducted through mediators, who carried messages between the US and Iran throughout the day. He said one round of discussions had been completed and that the mediators would continue working between the two sides.
Iran sets conditions for reopening Strait of Hormuz
Iran has laid out conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to Al Jazeera. Araghchi reportedly conveyed Tehran’s demands to US officials through the mediators.
Iran has called for the US to immediately lift its naval blockade and release Iranian assets frozen overseas. It has also demanded an end to the war on all fronts, including in Lebanon.
The Strait of Hormuz is a major global energy route connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman. Large quantities of crude oil and natural gas pass through the waterway, making its status important for global energy supplies.
Trump warns Iran of military action if no deal is reached
Trump also issued a warning to Iran during his address to the UN General Assembly on Tuesday. He said Iran had two options: reach an agreement with the US or face further military action.
Trump said that if negotiations fail and the conflict continues, the US could destroy Iran. He said Washington could either pursue a peace agreement or resume military action.
Trump said the US wanted to establish peace through its strength. He also called on Iran to return to the negotiating table and fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.