Iran confirms indirect talks with U.S. in New York

Iran has confirmed holding indirect talks with the U.S., mediated by Qatar, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, reiterating Tehran’s conditions for de-escalating tensions.

“Iranian delegation conveyed its views and conditions clearly and explicitly to the American side,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said.

“The interaction was carried out with the aim of conveying Iran's conditions, including ending the war in all fronts, stopping aggressive US acts, removing naval blockade, ending economic war, and the release of Iran's frozen assets,” he said in an interview with Iran's state-run IRNA news agency in New York.

Conditions outlined in indirect talks

The spokesman did not name the negotiators, although reports said Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff led the two delegations.

Baghaei also rejected as “repetitive accusations” remarks made by U.S. President Donald Trump about Iran during his address to the UN General Assembly, saying they were made “out of desperation”.

“Threatening a country with military attack is an admission of nature of the US ruling body and an admission of committing international crimes,” he added.

Araghchi holds diplomatic meetings

Alongside the indirect talks with the U.S., Araghchi has held meetings with his counterparts from Qatar, Switzerland, Italy, the Netherlands, Iraq, Austria, Azerbaijan, Greece, Belarus and France, as well as the EU foreign policy chief, since arriving in New York on Monday.

According to official statements, during meetings with senior European diplomats, Araghchi criticised their countries’ positions on the Israeli-U.S. war against Iran and Tehran’s nuclear programme, which Iran says is peaceful.

Pezeshkian arrives for UN General Assembly

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in New York on Tuesday to attend the General Assembly, deliver a speech and hold talks with other leaders on bilateral and global issues.

• Iran's president says Tehran does not want war after reprisal attacks on U.S. bases
• UN rights chief urges restraint after U.S.-Iran peace deal
• Iran presses Qatar for answers over three missing Air Force pilots

Iranian officials said Tehran would use the annual gathering to set out its position on major global and regional issues and protect Iran’s national interests.

“Attending the United Nations General Assembly is an opportunity to explain the positions of the Islamic Republic of Iran, explain the realities of the region, and convey the voice of the Iranian nation to world public opinion,” Pezeshkiantold reporters before departing for New York on Tuesday.

Assembly follows 40-day war

The 2026 UN General Assembly is taking place after the Israeli-U.S. war against Iran, which began on 28 February and lasted 40 days.

The previous session was also held against a backdrop of heightened tensions following 12 days of Israeli-U.S. airstrikes in June.

Tags

Iran New York UNGA Esmaeil Baghaei Israeil-US War Europe