US and Iran hold lengthy UNGA talks as accounts differ over direct contact

The United States and Iran held lengthy diplomatic talks on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, although accounts differed over whether senior officials met directly. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said the discussions were conducted through mediators who shuttled between the American and Iranian delegations throughout the day. President Donald Trump later said U.S. representatives had held a very good and productive meeting lasting about three hours with Iranian officials. Iranian state media also reported contact between Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Witkoff, indicating the highest-level engagement between the two sides in weeks. Tehran has linked the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to conditions including an end to the U.S. naval blockade, the release of frozen Iranian assets and an end to the war. A senior Iranian official had earlier said the strait could reopen within seven days if U.S. military pressure eased and the blockade of Iranian ports was lifted. Trump described the talks positively and said further discussions would follow. No final peace agreement, ceasefire or decision to reopen the Strait of Hormuz has been announced.