Trump says Iran deal close, held ‘very good’ UN talks

U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on Tuesday that an agreement with Iran was nearing completion, and that representatives from both nations held productive discussions during the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. At the UN event, Trump stated that talks with Iran were advancing, and that Tehran remained committed to reaching a deal.

In remarks exclusive to reporters, Trump highlighted a "very good meeting" facilitated by his envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, with Iranian delegates during the UN gathering. Witkoff asserted that U.S. and Iranian officials engaged in "lengthy talks" throughout the UN event, while Iranian sources reported Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had met with U.S. officials in New York.

Media reports suggested that Iranian officials largely upheld Iran's conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which encompass the swift repeal of U.S. sanctions, a naval blockade against Iran, and the immediate release of all of Iran's frozen assets. Moreover, Iranian sources also demonstrated that officials largely disregarded Trump's statements made earlier that day, where the president labeled Iran as a "bully" in the Middle East and hinted at the potential annihilation of the Islamic Republic.

Nevertheless, prior to the talks, Iran's Revolutionary Guard released a statement emphasizing that holding talks and waging war simultaneously posed no contradiction.

The UN discussions represent the initial encounter between U.S. and Iranian officials since the two countries agreed to a 60-day ceasefire in June. However, this truce expired in August amidst renewed military hostilities in Hormuz. Although military tensions have somewhat eased in recent weeks, the U.S. and Iran remain largely at odds over the Strait of Hormuz, which has maintained minimal ship traffic through the waterway compared to prewar levels.

Iran has advocated for a broader de-escalation before any significant talks can be held, whereas Washington has largely maintained its stance that Tehran cannot be permitted to acquire a nuclear weapon—a stance reiterated by Trump on Tuesday.

Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian is scheduled to address the UN assembly later on Wednesday. The U.S.-Iran conflict has now surpassed a seven-month duration. The dispute spilled into the Red Sea earlier in September, amidst an increasingly hostile conflict between Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels and Saudi Arabia. Nonetheless, oil prices dropped significantly this week, with Brent falling below $100 a barrel as markets anticipated enhanced U.S.-Iran diplomatic progress.

Trump expressed optimism that a deal could be reached following the November midterm elections, where his Republican party faces an increasingly challenging environment.