Diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly concluded without an agreement on next steps to resolve the seven-month conflict. Hopes for a breakthrough after three hours of discussions in New York were dashed as both sides remained deadlocked, primarily over the sequencing of concessions. Iran proposed a roadmap to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restart negotiations, but this was rejected by US President Donald Trump, who is reportedly seeking further concessions from Tehran before easing pressure.
Iran's proposal, outlined by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, included a cessation of hostilities, the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions relief, and the release of frozen Iranian assets, with broader nuclear negotiations to follow. Trump's rejection suggests his administration believes it holds a strong position, evidenced by its control of the Strait of Hormuz and mounting economic pressure on Iran. Sanctions and a US naval blockade have already reduced Iran's exports and imports by nearly 35%, according to Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
The core disagreement centers on who should make the first move: Iran insists Washington must ease military and economic pressure before talks resume, while the US demands Iran make additional concessions. Iranian officials, including Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, stated that Iran's conditions for reopening the Strait are fixed and that Washington has a limited timeframe to meet them. Robert Malley, former US special envoy for Iran, suggests that economic and military pressure has eroded Iran's leverage, making their previous demands less appealing to Washington.
Despite the lack of a formal agreement, communication between the two sides has continued through intermediaries like Qatar. A US official indicated that discussions remained "positive and constructive" and that the US was not in a hurry to reach a deal, given its strong position regarding the Strait of Hormuz. However, the inability to find common ground at the General Assembly has highlighted the significant challenges in the diplomatic track, with the looming US midterm elections adding further complexity to the timeline for both sides.
