NEW YORK — U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that American and Iranian officials held an unexpected three hour meeting in New York on Tuesday, September 22, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, hours after he warned that he could “annihilate” Iran if no agreement is reached to end the nearly seven month war.
Trump said his special envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, met with Iranian officials during the discussions but provided few details about what was agreed.
“It was a very good meeting,” Trump told reporters, while acknowledging that the Iranian representatives were “not the highest level, but it’s something.”
The meeting was conducted indirectly through mediators who moved between the two delegations, according to Witkoff. He said he remained hopeful that the discussions could lead to a constructive outcome.
The talks marked a notable diplomatic contact between Washington and Tehran after earlier efforts stalled following the collapse of a ceasefire reached in June. Previous indirect discussions had also been held with Qatari and Pakistani mediators.
Trump issues warning at UN
The talks came shortly after Trump used his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly to defend the U.S. military campaign against Iran and demand that Tehran return to negotiations.
Trump said he faced what he described as a major decision over whether to pursue a settlement that would allow Iran to rebuild or take further military action.
“I have a big decision to make,” Trump told world leaders, before warning that he could “annihilate the Islamic Republic” if an agreement was not reached.
Trump also called on Iran to fully reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, a major international shipping route whose disruption has contributed to concerns over energy supplies and oil prices.
The U.S. president has continued to argue that military pressure is necessary to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
Washington open to further engagement
Earlier Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration was open to further engagement with Iranian officials during the UN General Assembly.
Rubio said Trump was willing to meet Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian if such engagement could contribute to resolving the conflict.
The comments came as Pezeshkian was in New York for the UN gathering, creating an opportunity for further diplomatic contacts between the two countries.
Iranian officials, however, have maintained demands concerning the war, including an end to U.S. military pressure and the blockade affecting Iranian ports. Reports from the Iranian side said Tehran also raised the issue of reopening the Strait of Hormuz during mediated contacts.
Gulf leaders discuss the conflict with Trump
Trump also met with leaders and senior officials from Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Jordan in New York to discuss the conflict and possible ways forward.
The meeting brought together representatives from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, alongside Jordan.
U.S. officials said regional leaders discussed the need for a path toward de-escalation, including the possibility of a temporary pause that could create room for broader diplomatic negotiations.
The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the wider crisis because of its importance to global energy shipments.
Iran war continues to affect global energy markets
The prolonged conflict has continued to create uncertainty in international energy markets, with concerns about disruptions to oil shipments through the Gulf and surrounding waterways.
The situation has also been complicated by attacks and instability involving Iran backed groups in the region, including developments around the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait.
The potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz has therefore become one of the issues closely watched by governments and energy markets as diplomatic efforts resume. Reuters reported that financial markets were responding to signs that Washington and Tehran could be moving toward renewed negotiations.
Trump also addresses Ukraine and Greenland
Iran dominated much of Trump’s UN speech, but the president also addressed other major foreign policy issues, including Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Trump said he wanted the conflict to end and pointed to a recently signed sanctions bill that gives him authority to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries importing Russian oil or natural gas, subject to conditions contained in the legislation.
On the sidelines of the General Assembly, Trump also signed a security agreement with Denmark and Greenland aimed at strengthening U.S. military and security cooperation in the Arctic.
Under the agreement, Greenland remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark, while the United States is expected to expand its military presence there.
Trump’s meetings in New York also included discussions with several other world leaders, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and British Prime Minister Andy Burnham.
For now, the unexpected U.S.-Iran meeting has reopened a diplomatic channel between Washington and Tehran, even as Trump continues to threaten further military action if negotiations fail.
