US, Iran Remain Far Apart After Shuttle Talks
The United States and Iran remain far apart on a potential settlement to end their war despite holding their first known indirect negotiations in months at the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Tehran said diplomacy would continue while it reviewed Washington’s response to its peace proposals.
US-Iran Shuttle Talks Resume in New York
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner exchanged messages for about two hours through a Qatari mediator. Iranian officials had been instructed not to meet the American delegation face-to-face.
The talks were the first known indirect contact between the two sides since a ceasefire collapsed in July. A senior Iranian official said significant differences remained, but diplomatic engagement was continuing.
Iran Sets Conditions for Ending War
Iran’s proposals prioritise lifting the US naval blockade on Iranian ports and reaching an arrangement that could reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Tehran also called for an end to hostilities across different fronts, a halt to US military action and the release of frozen Iranian assets. Washington maintains that the Strait of Hormuz must remain fully open to international shipping.
Rubio Says Iran Deal Will Require Time
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said reaching an agreement with Tehran would require difficult negotiations over time while stressing that President Donald Trump continues to retain military options.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian meanwhile told the UN General Assembly that Iran would not surrender to pressure and reiterated Tehran’s position that it is not seeking nuclear weapons.
The renewed diplomatic contact has not yet produced any publicly announced concessions, but it represents the most significant engagement through mediators between Washington and Tehran in months.
