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U.S. and Iran hold indirect talks at UN to seek path out of West Asia conflict
Reported by Rohit Yadav (Staff Writer) · The Hindu - International ·
Confirmed by a second source: BBC News - World
Representative image · Wikimedia CommonsUPDATE - follow-up to Hope for progress after U.S., Iran hold first shuttle talks in months: The United States and Iran held their first shuttle talks in months on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, 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, marking the first contact since an interim ceasefire collapsed in July.
Discussions and Demands
U.S. President Donald Trump described the meeting as productive and noted momentum for a deal. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei stated that Tehran engaged through a Qatari mediator, demanding an end to the war on all fronts and a halt to U.S. acts of aggression. Mr. Araghchi met with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, while clarifying that his talks with Mr. Witkoff were not face-to-face. President Trump previously told the UN General Assembly that he must decide between making a deal or annihilating Iran, adding that the conflict could end around November's U.S. midterm elections.
Market Impacts
The diplomatic opening helped keep Brent crude oil prices near two-week lows, holding just below the $100-a-barrel threshold. The nearly seven-month war, launched in February as Operation Epic Fury by Mr. Trump and Israel, has killed thousands, disrupted energy supplies, and spread to Lebanon and Yemen. Despite shipping disruptions, tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has gradually increased as producers pay high fees to bypass the route, while UAE exports have recovered and Saudi Arabia has sold millions of barrels for delivery off Oman's coast.
ExplainerWhy this matters
What Happened
The United States and Iran resumed indirect diplomatic contact through Qatari mediators at the UN General Assembly in New York, following the breakdown of an interim ceasefire agreement in July.
Why It Matters
The conflict has severely disrupted global energy supplies, causing roughly a third of Gulf oil to go missing from world markets and driving up inflation and interest rates. While recent shuttle talks and adaptive oil shipping methods have helped stabilize Brent crude near two-week lows just under $100 a barrel, prolonged tensions and blockades continue to strain international markets and political landscapes ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.
What Happens Next
It remains uncertain whether the indirect talks will lead to a formal resolution, as core disagreements persist over shipping rules in the Strait of Hormuz and regional military actions. Observers will monitor whether ongoing mediation can bridge the gap between Tehran's demands and Washington's conditions before the U.S. midterm elections in November.
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