New York: US-Iran diplomacy moved forward at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, where the two sides met for talks on the sidelines of the event on Tuesday (September 22).
US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff described the three-hour exchanges with Iranian representatives as “constructive and promising”.
Iranian state media later confirmed that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Witkoff in New York. Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported that the meeting took place at the request of the US special envoy.
Witkoff said the United States had held lengthy talks with the Iranian delegation through mediators who moved between the two sides during the day. They successfully completed a round of discussions that we hope will prove constructive and promising. The mediators will continue their work.
In a post on X, US special envoy said, “Today, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, we engaged in lengthy talks with the Iranian delegation through the mediators, who shuttled between the two sides throughout the day.
No meeting between him and his US counterpart has been announced.
Araghchi used the meeting to convey Tehran’s conditions for reopening the Strait, according to Iranian state media. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran could reopen the maritime route within seven days if Washington scales back military action and lifts its blockade on Iranian ports. The official said Iran’s delegation in New York has authority to pursue diplomatic negotiations. Speaking during his bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, he said the meeting had lasted three hours and described it as a “very good meeting”.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is also in New York for the UNGA. The ongoing diplomatic effort is instead being handled through senior officials, envoys and regional mediators.
