U.S. and Iran Officials Meet in New York to Discuss War Resolution

<p>President Trump stated that U.S. officials met for three hours with the Iranian delegation at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.</p><ul><li>"It was a good meeting ... It's to their advantage to make a deal," Trump said before meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.</li><li>A U.S. official and a regional source indicated that Trump's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner attended the meeting, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi represented Iran.</li><li>Iran state television reported that the meeting was requested by the U.S. and was "driven by the need to convey Iran's conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz," which include lifting the naval blockade, releasing frozen Iranian assets, and ending the war on all fronts.</li></ul><hr /><p><strong>Why it matters: </strong>The General Assembly provides a rare opportunity to address the ongoing war, which is nearing the seven-month mark without a breakthrough.</p><ul><li>This marks the first meeting between U.S. and Iranian officials since mid-June.</li></ul><p><strong>State of play: </strong>Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC on Tuesday morning that President Trump is open to meeting with Iranian officials in New York, believing that engagement is essential for problem-solving. However, he noted that no meeting has been scheduled yet.</p><ul><li>Trump is expected to meet with representatives from nine Arab countries on Tuesday to discuss the war, with many countries likely to encourage him to de-escalate tensions with Iran and pursue a deal, according to regional sources.</li></ul><p><strong>What he said: </strong>In his speech before the UN General Assembly, Trump reiterated his previous statement that he has "a big decision to make" regarding a deal with Iran or "annihilating the Islamic Republic."</p><ul><li>Trump expressed confidence that the U.S. would reach a deal with Iran after the midterms.</li><li>"We will get it done one way or another. We will get it done and get it done fast," Trump stated.</li><li>"It doesn't make sense for Iran not to (make a deal)," he added. "They are waiting to see how I do in the midterm elections. What they don't realize is that I am not running … I will be here for two-and-a-half years. I gave no credence and will not give credence to the election when it comes to Iran. It doesn't even enter my mind. The only thing that does is that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon."</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom out: </strong>Trump also discussed the broader context of the war, stating that many previous presidents ignored the Iran threat for years.</p><ul><li>"After giving Iran every chance for a deal I took action to ensure that neither the U.S. nor any other nation will have to face such a catastrophic problem," Trump said.</li></ul><p><strong>Zoom in: </strong>Trump accused Iran of violating the ceasefire by attacking commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. However, he noted that the U.S. successfully manages to get dozens of oil tankers out of the strait each night.</p><ul><li>"We must be united in putting pressure on Iran. I call on all countries to join us in our pressure campaign against Iran," he said.</li></ul><p><em>This story has been updated with new details.</em></p>