President Donald Trump confirmed that senior US officials, including Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, held a three-hour meeting with an Iranian delegation in New York on Tuesday, shortly after his address to the 81st UN General Assembly session. The disclosure, reported by Israel Hayom, contradicts earlier administration statements that no such discussions were planned.
The talks reportedly took place with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his team. According to the report, the session was facilitated by Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, who was present for the majority of the discussion. The primary agenda centered on the conditions for resuming formal negotiations, with the status of the Strait of Hormuz identified as a critical point of contention.
President Trump described the meeting as “very productive” during a later encounter with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. While acknowledging that no comprehensive agreement was reached regarding existing disputes, the President confirmed that a follow-up meeting is already scheduled for the coming days.
During his UN address, President Trump presented a stark choice to the Iranian regime: pursue an agreement to dismantle its nuclear program and cease support for militant activities, or face the prospect of US military action. Despite this public rhetoric, the diplomatic engagement in New York signals a continued effort to establish a channel for potential de-escalation.