Archive · 23 Sep 2026
US and Iran Hold Talks After Trump’s Annihilation Threat
The United States and Iran had an unexpected meeting in New York.
The meeting happened after President Donald Trump made a very strong threat against Iran.
Trump said his representatives talked with Iranian officials for about three hours.
He called the meeting good, but said Iran’s most senior leaders were not there.
Iran said Qatar helped arrange the contact.
Iran wants the fighting to stop on all fronts.
It also wants the naval blockade and economic pressure to end, along with the release of Iranian money and assets.
The two countries have not announced a final agreement.
Other leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron, have urged action to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and reduce the crisis.
US and Iranian officials held an unexpected, roughly three-hour engagement in New York on Tuesday.
President Donald Trump said the meeting was very good, but acknowledged that Iran’s representatives were not the highest level.
Iran said the contact occurred through a Qatari mediator and outlined conditions for further talks.
Tehran demanded an end to the war, US actions it calls aggression, the naval blockade and economic warfare, plus the release of Iranian assets.
The engagement followed Trump’s warning that he could “annihilate” Iran if no agreement was reached to end the nearly seven-month war.
- Who
- US officials led by Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and Iranian officials; President Donald Trump and Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei also described the engagement.
- What
- The United States and Iran held an unexpected engagement and discussed conditions for possible further talks.
- When
- Tuesday, September 22, 2026, after Trump’s remarks; the live updates continued on September 23.
- Where
- New York, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly.
- Why
- The contact concerned efforts to end the nearly seven-month war, although Iran said further talks would require an end to the war, alleged US aggression, the naval blockade and economic warfare, as well as the release of Iranian assets.
US Position
Iranian Position
Conditions for negotiations
US Position
Trump said the engagement was positive and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump was open to meeting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, even if talks did not produce an agreement.
Iranian Position
Iran said further talks required an end to the war on all fronts, an end to what it calls US acts of aggression, removal of the naval blockade and economic warfare, and release of Iranian assets.
Pressure and threats
US Position
Trump warned that he could “annihilate” Iran if no deal was reached to end the war.
Iranian Position
Iran described US actions as aggression and sought an end to the military and economic pressure before proceeding with talks.
Regional crisis
US Position
The US expressed support for alternative routes to move Middle East energy away from Iran, according to the live updates.
Iranian Position
French President Emmanuel Macron urged Trump to seek a deal reopening the Strait of Hormuz and said regime change through bombing was not feasible.
- Meeting duration
- About three hours
- Meeting location
- New York, during the United Nations General Assembly
- US representatives
- Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner
- Mediator
- Qatar facilitated the engagement, according to Iran
- Iranian conditions
- An end to the war, alleged US aggression, the naval blockade and economic warfare, plus release of Iranian assets
- Trump’s assessment
- He called the meeting “very good” but said the Iranian officials were not the highest level
- Conflict duration
- Nearly seven months, according to the report