The United States and Iran held their first direct high-level talks in months on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, opening a new diplomatic channel as the nearly seven-month conflict between the two countries continues.
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, took part in a three-hour meeting with an Iranian delegation. Trump described the discussions as a “very good” and productive meeting and said further talks were expected in the near future.
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Iranian state media reported that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was part of the Iranian delegation. The meeting marked the first direct contact between US and Iranian officials at this level since June, according to reports.
Witkoff said the discussions were conducted through mediators who moved between the American and Iranian teams. He said he hoped the talks would prove “constructive and promising” and indicated that the mediators would continue their efforts.
The talks came only hours after Trump, during his address to the UN General Assembly, warned that Iran could face severe military consequences if an agreement to end the conflict was not reached. Trump has also called for increased international economic pressure on Tehran.
Iran, meanwhile, has presented conditions linked to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, according to Iranian state media reports. These reportedly include the lifting of the US naval blockade, the return of frozen Iranian assets and an end to the war on multiple fronts.
The latest engagement follows months of stalled diplomatic efforts after a short-lived ceasefire in June. US and Iranian negotiators subsequently held separate meetings with Qatari and Pakistani mediators in Doha in July, but no lasting agreement emerged.
The New York discussions have now brought the two sides back into direct contact, although significant differences remain. Reports indicate that additional diplomatic efforts are expected in the coming days.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
