Trump says 'annihilate' Iran, hours later Araghchi meets Witkoff and Kushner

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met US special envoy Steve Witkoff and US President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in New York on Tuesday, as Washington and Tehran resumed high-level contact amid the ongoing war and a widening dispute over the Strait of Hormuz.

The talks, held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, lasted around three hours. They came hours after Trump used his UNGA address to warn that he was considering whether to pursue a deal with Iran or “annihilate” the country.

US-Iran talks held through mediators

Araghchi represented Iran, while Witkoff and Kushner represented the US. Qatar was among the mediators involved in facilitating communication between the two sides, according to Iran’s foreign ministry.

Witkoff said the mediators moved between the US and Iranian delegations before the talks were eventually held.

“Today, on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, we engaged in lengthy talks with the Iranian delegation through the mediators,” Witkoff said on X.

He described the discussions as “constructive and promising” and said the mediators would continue their efforts.

Trump later called the meeting “very good” and “very productive”, adding that another round of discussions was expected soon. He also said there was “a lot of momentum” towards a possible agreement, Reuters reported.

The meeting marked the first direct US-Iran contact at this level in around three months. The previous face-to-face talks were held in June, when US Vice President JD Vance met Iranian officials in Switzerland.

Iran sets conditions for reopening Hormuz

The Strait of Hormuz emerged as a key issue during the latest discussions. Iranian state media reported that Araghchi conveyed Tehran’s conditions for reopening the strategic waterway.

Iran has demanded that the US naval blockade be lifted, frozen Iranian assets be returned and the war on multiple fronts be brought to an end.

A senior Iranian official also indicated that Tehran could consider reopening the strait within a week if Washington took reciprocal steps to ease military and economic pressure, according to The Guardian.

Trump again threatens Iran

The talks followed Trump’s strongly worded UNGA speech, during which he said he faced a choice over whether to strike a deal with Iran or pursue military action.

“I have a big decision to make -- will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country?” Trump said.

“Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again? Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival?”

Tehran condemns Trump’s remarks

Iran condemned Trump’s comments, with its military authorities describing them as “merely a tool for domestic propaganda”.

“The hostile statements & repeated threats by the US president against Iran, accompanied by the use of the UN platform to justify aggression, create insecurity and engage in piracy around the world, are, before being based on realities on the ground, merely a tool for domestic propaganda,” the statement said.

The latest diplomatic contact follows months of stalled negotiations and comes as the conflict, which began on February 28, continues.