President Donald Trump said U.S. officials met with an Iranian delegation for three hours on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Tuesday, Sept. 22, according to multiple news reports. [1] [2]
The meeting was the first direct engagement between the two sides since a June ceasefire unraveled, the BBC reported. [3] It came the same day Trump addressed the General Assembly, where he said he faces a "big decision" on whether to pursue a deal with Iran or take military action. [4]
Speaking to reporters during a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian delegation, Trump described the session with Iranian officials as a "very good meeting, very productive meeting," Middle East Eye (MEE) reported. [2] He said another meeting is scheduled in the "very near future" but did not specify a date or participants. [2]
Trump Comments on Potential Deal
When asked about the prospect of a deal with Iran, Trump said, "I can't imagine why they wouldn't want to do it," according to Just The News. [1] He added, "It's greatness, potential greatness, or obliteration." [1]
Trump offered his envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff to comment on the meeting, but he did not confirm who exactly attended. [1] Witkoff, who participated in the talks, told reporters, "I feel very good right now," according to Just The News. [1]
The BBC reported that the talks involved Iran's foreign minister and Witkoff, and were mediated by Qatar. [3] Witkoff said a round of discussions had been completed "that we hope will prove constructive and promising." [3]
Trump also said, "They had a very good meeting, and we'll see how it turns out. But certainly, it's to their advantage to make a deal," according to MEE. [2] Iranian officials have said they want a ceasefire tied to lifting a blockade of Houthi-controlled parts of Yemen and the immediate release of $24 billion in frozen funds. [5]
Earlier Remarks at General Assembly
Earlier Tuesday during his General Assembly speech, Trump said he has a "big decision to make" regarding Iran. [4]
"Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before, maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world," he asked, according to Antiwar.com. [4] He also said, "Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again." [4]
Trump predicted that a deal could be reached after November's midterm elections. [4] He said the midterms do not "even enter my mind" and that "The only thing that does is that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon." [4]
Members of Iran's delegation walked out during the president's speech, the BBC reported. [6] Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said that people cannot be forced into submission through military pressure, according to MEE. [7] The U.S. also denied visas to certain members of Pezeshkian's high-level delegation, including communications team members, according to Iran's state news agency IRNA, as cited by NaturalNews.com. [8]
Context: Stalemate and Economic Pressure
The meeting comes as peace negotiations between the United States and Iran remain at a standstill, according to a report by MEE. [9] Diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict have been stalled since a memorandum of understanding collapsed in July. [10] Trita Parsi wrote in Antiwar.com that a final deal between Washington and Tehran is "slipping further out of reach." [10]
Iran's Fars News Agency denied reports by Kyodo News and Reuters that Iran had offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, calling the reporting "invalid," according to ZeroHedge. [11] The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical chokepoint for global oil trade, and its closure has contributed to energy price volatility. [12]
Energy prices continue to rise as a result of the war. U.S. diesel prices reached a record high of $6.5107 per gallon on Monday, Sept. 21. The current price was up 76% from a year ago, according to American Automobile Association data cited by Russia Today. [13]
High oil and gas prices, in addition to high fertilizer prices, have created political headwinds for Republican congressional candidates ahead of the midterm elections, officials said. [9] Oil prices fell Wednesday, Sept. 23, after Trump's remarks about the talks. Brent crude dipped to $98.91 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate at $89.93 per barrel in early Asian trade, MEE reported. [14]
Next Steps and Unresolved Details
Trump did not provide details on who attended the meeting or the specific location within the UN General Assembly sidelines. [1] Another meeting is scheduled in the "very near future," Trump said, without giving a date or participants. [2] The outcome of any potential deal between the United States and Iran remains uncertain. [3]
Trump met earlier Tuesday with Arab and Muslim leaders on the sidelines of the General Assembly, where he heaped praise on regional stakeholders but announced no substantive outcome. [15] He told the gathering that "We've isolated Iran financially and hopefully they'll do the right thing fast," warning that "there will be a time when it's too late, and we won't have the chance of letting them survive as a nation." [16]
References
- Just The News. "Trump met with Iranian delegation for 3 hours in NYC". September 22, 2026.
- Middle East Eye. "Trump says US, Iranian officials met for three hours at UN". September 22, 2026.
- BBC. "US and Iran hold first talks since June after Trump's 'annihilation' threat". September 23, 2026.
- Antiwar.com. "In UN Speech, Trump Threatens Iran With 'Annihilation' and 'Hell' But Says Deal Likely After Midterms". September 22, 2026.
- Middle East Eye. "Iran and US held direct UN talks, with Islamic Republic's terms to reopen Hormuz hardening". September 22, 2026.
- BBC. "Trump tells UN he has 'big decision' on whether to 'annihilate' Iran or make peace deal". September 22, 2026.
- Middle East Eye. "Live: Iran denounces US-Israel attacks as regional tensions rise". September 22, 2026.
- NaturalNews.com. "U.S. Refuses to Issue Visas to Members of Iranian President's UN Delegation". September 22, 2026.
- Middle East Eye. "UN General Assembly 2026: US-Israeli war on Iran to take centre stage". September 21, 2026.
- Antiwar.com. "Trump's Saudi Nuclear Agreement May Prolong the Iran War". September 4, 2026.
- ZeroHedge. "Iran's Fars Calls Reuters' Hormuz Reopening Story 'Invalid' Ahead Of Trump's UN Address". September 22, 2026.
- Mike Adams. "Health Ranger Report - FALSE FLAG WARNING". BrightVideos.com. March 12, 2026.
- RT. "US diesel prices hit record high". September 21, 2026.
- Middle East Eye. "Oil prices fall after Trump hails 'very productive' US-Iran talks at UN". September 23, 2026.
- Middle East Eye. "Trump heaps praise on Middle East leaders at UN meeting on Iran war". September 22, 2026.
- Middle East Eye. "Trump says Iran must act 'fast' to 'survive as a nation'". September 22, 2026.
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