New York: US President Donald Trump has threatened further military action against Iran while leaving the door open to a diplomatic agreement, as US and Iranian representatives held mediated talks in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
The discussions took place on Tuesday, September 22, shortly after Trump addressed world leaders at the UN and warned Iran that it could face further military action if an agreement was not reached. Trump later said US and Iranian officials had met for about three hours and described the meeting as very good.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner took part in the discussions on the American side. Witkoff later described the discussions as mediated, with representatives moving between the US and Iranian sides. He said the talks were constructive and promising.
The two sides have not announced a peace agreement or a new comprehensive ceasefire. The latest contact represents a renewed diplomatic effort at a time when military tensions remain high between Washington and Tehran.
The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as a major issue in the discussions. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran could reopen the strategically important waterway within seven days if the United States reduced military pressure and lifted its blockade of Iranian ports.
Iranian officials have also communicated conditions for ending the conflict through mediators. The conditions include lifting the US naval blockade, releasing frozen Iranian assets and ending the war across what Tehran describes as resistance fronts.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important energy routes. Large amounts of oil and gas move through the waterway, which connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the wider Indian Ocean. Disruption to shipping through the strait has raised concerns about energy supplies, transport costs and the wider global economy.
Qatar has been involved in efforts to reduce tensions between Washington and Tehran. Qatar has said it is working with Pakistan to support de escalation efforts and protect freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani also met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in New York on Tuesday. Their discussions included regional developments and efforts to create conditions for further dialogue.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is also in New York for the United Nations General Assembly. He is expected to address the assembly as diplomatic efforts continue. There has been no confirmed meeting between Pezeshkian and Trump.
Iran has continued to reject Trump's threats while keeping communication channels open through mediators. Iranian military officials have warned that any further US military action would bring a strong response.
Trump's speech at the UN reflected the sharp differences between the two countries. He defended US military action against Iran and said Washington had previously offered diplomatic and economic options to Tehran.
At the same time, the US president said he believed an agreement could still be reached. His administration has continued to use diplomatic channels even as military threats remain part of its public position.
The latest discussions are part of a wider diplomatic effort involving regional countries. Earlier contacts between Washington and Tehran have not produced a lasting settlement, and major disagreements remain over the conditions for ending the conflict.
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz could become an important test of whether the latest diplomacy produces practical results. Iran has linked reopening the waterway to changes in US military pressure, while the United States has not publicly agreed to Tehran's conditions.
The developments have also been closely watched by financial markets because prolonged disruption in the Gulf could affect global energy supplies. Oil prices have fallen as markets assess the possibility of increased Gulf supplies and renewed diplomatic progress between the United States and Iran.
For now, there is no confirmed peace agreement, no new comprehensive ceasefire and no final agreement on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The two sides remain divided over the terms for ending the conflict.
The next stage of the talks will determine whether the latest mediated contacts can produce concrete steps towards reducing military tensions and restoring safer navigation through one of the world's most important shipping routes.