U.S. and Iran Hold Indirect Talks at UN to Seek End to West Asia War

The United States and Iran held their first shuttle talks in months on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, raising hopes for progress in ending the West Asia war. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner communicated through mediators on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. This marked the first contact since an interim ceasefire agreement collapsed in July. U.S. President Donald Trump described the meeting as productive and noted momentum for a deal. Earlier, Mr. Trump told the UN General Assembly he had to choose between making a deal with Iran or annihilating the country. Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian was also scheduled to address the gathering. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that Tehran engaged through a Qatari mediator and conveyed conditions, including an end to the war on all fronts and a halt to U.S. acts of aggression. Mr. Araghchi met with the Prime Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, clarifying that the discussions with U.S. envoys were not face-to-face. The diplomatic opening helped keep Brent crude oil prices near two-week lows just below the $100-a-barrel mark. The conflict, launched in February as Operation Epic Fury by Mr. Trump and Israel, has lasted nearly seven months. It has killed thousands, disrupted energy supplies, and spread to Lebanon and Yemen. Mr. Trump stated the war could end around November's U.S. midterm elections, though he did not explain why. Military commanders recently advised Mr. Trump that munitions were running low, holding back a full-blown resumption of strikes. A previous interim agreement signed in June by Mr. Trump and Mr. Pezeshkian would have lifted financial sanctions and unfreezed assets for Iran in exchange for nuclear talks. However, that deal fell apart over shipping rules in the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran wants control and fee collection, which Washington rejects. Despite daily tanker attacks, traffic through the strait has increased as producers pay high fees to bypass restrictions. Meanwhile, Washington has imposed a blockade on Iranian ports, which Iranian officials say they will endure until it is lifted.