U.S. officials engaged in direct discussions with Iranian delegates shortly after President Donald Trump delivered an address to the United Nations General Assembly. The high-level encounter, which lasted approximately three hours, included special envoy Steve Witkoff and presidential adviser Jared Kushner. Trump later confirmed that the dialogue concluded recently and characterized the session positively, noting, “It was a very good meeting,” while adding that “They have another one scheduled in the very near future”.
The meeting came on the heels of severe warnings issued by the administration during the global summit. In his speech to international leaders, Trump outlined stark alternatives for resolving the ongoing conflict, stating he must decide whether to “annihilate” the regime or pursue a diplomatic resolution. “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?” Trump questioned before asking, “Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?” He further questioned whether to “drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness or generations?”
Despite the aggressive rhetoric on the assembly floor, administration figures expressed optimism regarding the diplomatic trajectory. Witkoff stated, “I feel very good right now,” following the private sessions. Speaking during a subsequent bilateral session, Trump suggested that progress was occurring behind the scenes, telling reporters, “I think that a settlement is going to be reached” and asserting that “the relationship is developing, let’s say”.
The diplomatic efforts coincide with broader political calculations surrounding domestic legislative contests. Trump projected that an agreement would likely be finalized following the upcoming legislative votes, stating, “I believe we’ll make a deal right after the election because it doesn’t make sense for them not to”. He claimed Iranian officials were delaying final terms to observe domestic political outcomes, remarking, “They’re waiting to see how I do in the midterm election”.
Despite lower-level Iranian delegates walking out ten minutes into the main speech, the subsequent closed-door session represents ongoing contact between the two parties during the international summit. Officials indicated that talks will continue through scheduled follow-up sessions in the near future.
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