Iran and United States signal possible restart of diplomatic talks ahead of UN General Assembly

Iran and the United States hinted on Tuesday that they could revive negotiations to end their ongoing conflict, as both presidents are scheduled to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York. A senior Iranian official said the Iranian delegation has full authority to restart talks, though no direct meeting between the leaders is planned. The official added that Iran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz to Gulf shipping within a week if the United States lifts military pressure and ends the blockade on Iranian ports, and that Tehran had conveyed its latest proposal to Washington through mediators.

"The US needs to announce that it wants to resolve the issue diplomatically, make that official, and then agree on a timeline for how the process will move forward," the Iranian official said, describing the General Assembly as a "golden opportunity" for diplomacy.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC’s “Today” show that the United States is open to speaking with Iran, especially if it can lead to positive outcomes. Rubio also noted that Iran’s president is subordinate to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, emphasizing the need to consider the broader political context.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf, who led previous negotiating teams, warned that Iran would not surrender and urged Trump to understand the limits of imposing power on Iran’s people and armed forces.

Trump is also set to meet leaders of six Gulf Arab states, who are keen to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz while remaining cautious about Iran’s influence. Saudi Arabia, facing Houthi advances in Yemen, has restarted operations at its East-West Pipeline, allowing limited exports from the Red Sea port of Yanbu.

A Qatari proposal for a regional security framework that would include Iran and the Gulf states is under review, according to regional sources. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said any arrangement must provide security guarantees for the Gulf states and increase economic interdependence with Iran.