DUBAI | Iran and the United States have signaled a possible return to negotiations as US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian prepare to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York, raising the prospect of renewed diplomacy amid the continuing conflict between the two countries.
A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran’s delegation had full authority to revive negotiations and that Tehran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz to Gulf shipping within seven days if Washington eased military pressure and lifted its blockade of Iranian ports. The official said Iran had already conveyed its latest proposal through mediators.
The same official said there were no plans for Trump and Pezeshkian to meet directly, but described the UN General Assembly as an opportunity for Washington to return to diplomacy. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio separately said Washington was open to discussions if there was a realistic prospect of achieving a positive outcome.
The diplomatic signals come after months of military confrontation. Reuters reported that this will be the first UN appearance by Trump and Pezeshkian since Trump launched what Washington called “Operation Epic Fury” against Iran in February alongside Israel. Previous face-to-face negotiations broke down after an interim agreement reached in July failed to hold.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, who had led Iran’s negotiating team in earlier talks, reiterated Tehran’s hardline position on Tuesday, saying Iran would not surrender to US pressure. The statements indicate that any renewed negotiations would still face major disagreements over security, military operations and Iran’s nuclear program.
The Strait of Hormuz remains central to the crisis because of its importance to global energy supplies. The waterway between Iran and Oman connects the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and Arabian Sea. The US Energy Information Administration said oil flows through Hormuz averaged about 20 million barrels per day in 2024, equivalent to roughly one-fifth of global petroleum liquids consumption. About one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas trade also passed through the strait that year.
The confrontation has also widened beyond the Gulf. Reuters reported that Iran-aligned Houthi forces in Yemen have advanced against Saudi-backed forces near the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait, another major maritime route. Saudi Arabia has sought to maintain alternative export routes, including its East-West pipeline to the Red Sea, amid disruptions linked to the conflict.
Qatar has also put forward a proposal for a broader regional security framework involving Iran and the Arab Gulf states. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said such an arrangement would require security guarantees for Gulf countries and greater economic interdependence with Iran.
The current diplomatic opening follows an earlier attempt to halt the fighting. In June, Trump and Iran signed an initial agreement that included measures concerning Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, US sanctions and the reopening of oil exports, according to the Associated Press. The arrangement later collapsed, leading to renewed fighting and further diplomatic efforts.
With both presidents now due in New York, attention is turning to whether indirect contacts can produce a new negotiating framework. For now, neither Washington nor Tehran has announced a confirmed direct meeting between Trump and Pezeshkian.
Si Venus L Peñaflor ay naging editor-in-chief ng Newsworld, isang lokal na pahayagan ng Laguna. Publisher din siya ng Daystar Gazette at Tutubi News Magazine. Siya ay isa ring pintor at doll face designer ng Ninay Dolls, ang unang Manikang Pilipino. Kasali siya sa DesignCrowd sa rank na #305 sa 640,000 graphic designers sa buong daigdig. Kasama din siya sa unang Local TV Broadcast sa Laguna na Beyond Manila. Aktibong kasapi siya ng San Pablo Jaycees Senate bilang isang JCI Senator.
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
- Venus L Peñaflor
