Middle East — 2026-09-24

Trump Envoys Witkoff and Kushner Hold Three-Hour Talks With Iranian Delegation at UNGA Sidelines

BLUFResumed US-Iran indirect contact after a three-month gap makes another round of talks by late October very likely, though neither side's actual concession threshold on Hormuz is yet testable.

US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met for three hours with Iran's UN delegation on Tuesday on the sidelines of the General Assembly in New York, President Trump told reporters, calling it a "very good, very productive meeting" 1234. Witkoff said on X that the contact was conducted indirectly, with mediators "shuttling between the two sides" throughout the day rather than a direct US-Iran meeting 13Strait of Hormuz" data-source="Al Jazeera" data-url="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/9/23/us-iran-hold-mediated-unga-talks-on-ending-war-opening-strait-of-hormuz" data-rt="primary" data-mbfc="mixed" data-otype="broadcaster">5. Iranian state media confirmed Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi conveyed Tehran's conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including lifting the US naval blockade, releasing frozen Iranian assets, and ending the war on all fronts, marking the first contact between the two sides since mid-June 135. A senior Iranian official separately told Reuters, as reported by Al Jazeera, that Iran could reopen Hormuz within seven days if Washington eased military pressure and lifted its port blockade 5. Trump told reporters the Iranian delegation was "not the highest level, but it's something," and said a further meeting was set for the near future 3.

Analysis
Renewed direct-channel contact between Araghchi and Witkoff, absent since mid-June, signals both sides now see enough upside to test terms rather than posture through proxies alone. Another round of talks within 30 days is very likely, driven by Trump's stated plan for a follow-up meeting and mediators' continued shuttle diplomacy. Moderate confidence reflects consistent reporting across US and Iranian channels on the meeting's occurrence, though neither side's actual concession threshold on Hormuz or the naval blockade is independently verified. A stalled round would leave Tehran's blockade-lifting demand and Washington's pressure campaign both unmet, prolonging the standoff into the announced deal deadline tied to the midterms.

5 sources

U.S. and Iran officials meet in New York to discuss ending the war - Axios
Trump Says US Officials Held 'Very Good' Meeting With Iranians in New York - Bloomberg
US and Iranian negotiators hold talks at UN that Trump says 'went very well' - The Times of Israel
Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner hold mediator talks as Iran submits Hormuz conditions - The Jerusalem Post
US, Iran hold mediated UNGA talks on ending war, opening Strait of Hormuz - Al Jazeera