US-Iran negotiations during UN meeting

On September 22, the USA and Iran held negotiations through intermediaries during a session of the UN General Assembly in New York.

US President Donald Trump described these negotiations as “very good and constructive,” noting that Washington and Tehran are close to reaching a deal. However, just hours earlier, during his speech at the UN meeting, he spoke about the possibility of destroying the Islamic Republic if an agreement is not reached.

According to Trump, his special envoy for the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, and his son-in-law Jared Kushner held negotiations lasting about three hours with one of the former participants in the talks with Tehran from the Iranian delegation. Later, Trump told the media that the negotiations went “very well” and were “very constructive,” and that new rounds of negotiations would take place in the near future. However, he did not provide details about the negotiations.

US President’s special envoy Steve Witkoff stated that representatives of the USA and Iran exchanged messages and responses between the two delegations through intermediaries. He noted that one round of negotiations was constructive and encouraging. He emphasized that the work of the intermediaries would continue. The media reported that Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi participated in the negotiations on the Iranian side.

The Strait of Hormuz Issue at the Center of Negotiations

One of the key points of the negotiations is considered to be the issue of the Strait of Hormuz — an important route for transporting oil and gas, the opening or closing of which directly affects the global energy market. According to reports, Tehran links the opening of the strait to a reduction in US military pressure, the lifting of maritime sanctions, and the release of frozen Iranian assets.

The Reuters agency recently reported, citing an Iranian official, that the country’s authorities are ready to restore shipping. They claimed that if military pressure and the blockade are eased, Iran could restore movement through the strait within seven days.

According to Reuters, even before the war began, at the end of February, an average of about 125 large commercial vessels passed through the Strait of Hormuz daily, while on September 21, that number was only two.

Also, on September 23, oil prices in the global market slightly decreased, which is related to reports of an improving situation and possible progress in US-Iran negotiations. This helped alleviate concerns about prolonged disruptions in oil transportation.

Threats and Negotiations on the Same Day

The negotiations in New York took place just hours after Trump’s tough speech at the UN General Assembly session. During his speech, Trump stated that the USA faces a significant choice: either an agreement will be reached with Iran so that the country can recover, or, as he put it, “the Islamic Republic will be destroyed.”

The President of the United States also emphasized that Washington will not allow Iran to have access to nuclear weapons. He justified the ongoing confrontation between the U.S. and Israel with Iran as a necessity to prevent Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Trump also stated that, in his opinion, there is a possibility of reaching an agreement with Iran after the midterm elections in the U.S. in November. He emphasized that negotiations could continue and a deal could eventually be reached.

Will the U.S. and Iran be able to sign a valid agreement?

It remains unclear how effective the negotiations in New York will be in achieving a real deal. The parties have serious disagreements on a number of key issues.

Washington insists on preventing Iran’s nuclear program and limiting Tehran’s capabilities. Iran, on the other hand, focuses on reducing military and economic pressure, opening maritime routes, and lifting sanctions.

Reuters reports that a senior Iranian official stated that Tehran’s delegation has sufficient authority to advance diplomacy and that the negotiations in New York could create an opportunity to discuss a potential deal.

Meanwhile, Iran has not fully announced its readiness to accept the conditions proposed by Washington, and the details of a possible agreement have also not been disclosed.

It should be noted that the war between the U.S. and Israel against Iran has been ongoing since late February 2026, and the issue of Iran’s nuclear program is at the center of the disagreements. After several months of confrontation, diplomatic efforts have been revitalized within the framework of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.

In this context, New York has become a new venue for diplomatic negotiations. Qatar and other countries in the region are also acting as mediators. Qatar has stated that it is making efforts to reduce tensions, ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, and restore regional stability.