Iranian and US officials held three hours of talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, with US special envoy Steve Witkoff meeting Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in talks mediated by Qatar. US President Donald Trump said another meeting could take place soon, while Witkoff described the meeting positively.
The talks focused on ending the conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials conveyed conditions for reopening the waterway, while Tehran indicated that it could reopen the strait to shipping within seven days if Washington takes reciprocal steps to ease military and economic pressure, according to The Guardian.
However, the two sides remain apart on key issues. Trump continued to call for economic pressure on Iran, while Iranian officials sought a formal US commitment to diplomacy and an easing of the blockade. Qatar is mediating between the two sides, with Oman also involved in efforts concerning navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.