Iran has rejected suggestions that it has abandoned its demands for reopening the Strait of Hormuz following a three-hour meeting with US representatives in New York. The discussions, held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and facilitated by Qatar, brought Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi together with US officials Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
US President Donald Trump described the meeting as highly productive and indicated that additional discussions could take place soon. The developments have raised hopes of renewed diplomacy while leaving major differences between Washington and Tehran unresolved.
Iran Says Its Conditions Remain in Place
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei confirmed that communication with the US took place through Qatari mediation. He said Tehran had clearly presented its conditions, including an end to the war, a halt to US military actions, the lifting of the naval blockade and the release of Iranian assets.
The statement came after reports suggested Iran could be prepared to relax some of its earlier demands in exchange for steps from Washington. Tehran, however, has maintained that its core position has not been abandoned.
Iran has previously outlined several conditions linked to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important routes for oil shipments. Iranian officials have also indicated that the waterway could potentially reopen within seven days if an agreement addressing Tehran’s demands is reached.
Three-Hour Talks Raise Hopes for Further Negotiations
The meeting lasted approximately three hours, with Trump later describing the discussions as very productive. Witkoff also characterized the talks as encouraging and constructive, although officials did not publicly disclose detailed terms or commitments resulting from the meeting.
The discussions represent an important diplomatic contact between Washington and Tehran as the conflict continues to put pressure on regional energy supplies and international shipping. Oil prices moved lower after news of the talks, with Brent crude falling below $100 a barrel during Wednesday trading.
Despite the positive comments from the US side, significant disagreements remain. A potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz would require agreement over shipping routes and control arrangements involving Iran and Oman, while Gulf countries and other international actors have their own interests in maintaining unrestricted navigation.
Pressure Mounts on Iran as Conflict Continues
Iran is facing increasing economic pressure from US sanctions and restrictions on its ability to export oil. The naval blockade has further complicated Tehran’s access to foreign currency, while additional sanctions could affect Iran’s civilian aviation sector.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is in New York for the UN General Assembly and is expected to present Tehran’s position during his address. Pezeshkian has previously supported negotiations with Washington and has maintained that an earlier memorandum of understanding reached in June should remain a basis for future discussions.
The latest talks therefore appear to have reopened a diplomatic channel, but Iran’s insistence that its conditions remain on the table means further negotiations could face difficult hurdles. Both sides are expected to assess whether additional meetings can narrow their differences over the war, sanctions, the naval blockade and the future of the Strait of Hormuz.
