Iranian Foreign Minister Meets US Envoy in New York as Talks Focus on Strait of Hormuz

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in New York on September 22 on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly, marking a significant direct contact between Iranian and U.S. officials amid continued tensions between the two countries.

According to Iranian accounts, the meeting took place at the request of the U.S. side. Iran agreed to the encounter in order to directly communicate its conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran said those conditions included the immediate lifting of the maritime blockade, the release of frozen Iranian assets and an end to the war across regional fronts.

U.S. President Donald Trump later confirmed that American officials had held talks with an Iranian delegation for approximately three hours. Trump described the meeting as “very good” and “productive,” and said another meeting was expected to take place soon. Witkoff also said after the meeting that he felt good about the discussions.

The U.S. delegation included Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law and adviser. Araghchi represented Iran in the discussions. Regional countries have also been involved in diplomatic efforts to facilitate communication between Tehran and Washington.

The Strait of Hormuz has emerged as one of the central issues in the latest contacts. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran could reopen the strategically important waterway within a week if the United States reduced military pressure and lifted its blockade of Iranian ports.

Iran has also outlined broader conditions for ending the current conflict, including an end to U.S. military actions, the lifting of the maritime blockade and the resolution of issues involving frozen Iranian assets. Washington, meanwhile, has continued to signal that a negotiated settlement remains possible, although significant differences remain between the two sides over the terms of any agreement.

The meeting came as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was in New York to attend the UN General Assembly. Pezeshkian is scheduled to address the General Assembly during the high-level debate. Although there had been speculation about a possible meeting between Pezeshkian and Trump, no direct presidential meeting has been confirmed.

The latest meeting has not produced a publicly announced agreement, but it has created an avenue for further communication. Trump said another round of talks would take place soon, while Tehran used the meeting to communicate its position directly to the U.S. side.

The next stage of diplomacy is expected to focus on several key issues, including whether the two sides can maintain direct communication, whether progress can be made on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and whether differences over military operations, economic pressure and frozen Iranian assets can be narrowed.

Neither side has publicly announced a specific date or detailed agenda for the next meeting. With the UN General Assembly continuing in New York, the city is expected to remain an important venue for diplomatic contacts involving Iran, the United States and regional intermediaries.