Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi Meets Qatari Mediators as US Demands Nuclear Talks

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has met with Qatari mediators in New York to discuss a proposal aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, a United States official stated that no agreement to end the war will be reached unless Tehran’s nuclear programme is directly addressed.

Speaking to Iranian state media on Monday, Abbas Araghchi explained that the Qatari mediators would carry the discussed ideas to the US, expressing hope that Washington’s final response would arrive by Tuesday. He noted that the discussions focused on finding solutions to fulfill Iran’s conditions and implement them effectively. When asked if he would remain in New York for the reply, Abbas Araghchi stated that he would fly to Tehran within hours, noting that the Qataris know how to deliver the response.

The Iranian plan, unveiled on Friday at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, urges the US to lift sanctions, release frozen Iranian funds, and end its naval blockade of Iranian ports. Abbas Araghchi stated that these measures could be finalized within four or five days, allowing the strait to reopen and negotiations on a final agreement—including Iran’s nuclear programme—to commence by the seventh day. However, US President Donald Trump rejected the proposal on Saturday, labeling it “unacceptable”.

An unnamed US official speaking to Al Jazeera described indirect discussions as “positive and constructive”, while reiterating that an agreement is contingent upon addressing Iran’s nuclear programme. The official mentioned that President Donald Trump is prepared to relieve sanctions and release frozen funds in exchange for nuclear progress, though both sides remain divided over the timing of commitments.

The US official also expressed skepticism regarding Iran, alleging that it breached a June memorandum of understanding by firing on commercial vessels. Tehran has denied the accusation, claiming instead that Washington violated commitments by failing to halt Israeli attacks on Lebanon and attempting to establish alternate shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran initially closed the strait—which previously handled roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil and gas supplies—shortly after the US and Israel launched their offensive on February 28. Subsequent attacks have significantly curtailed shipping and pushed oil prices above $100 a barrel. Nevertheless, crude exports from major Middle East producers rebounded in September to 12.8 million barrels per day, according to data from Kpler cited by the Reuters news agency, though this remains below the 18.8 million bpd exported in February.

While some maritime traffic has utilized a US military-supervised route hugging the coast of Oman, Admiral Brad Cooper reported that American forces have assisted 2,000 transits and more than 1 billion barrels of oil in recent months. Concurrently, the US maintains a blockade on Iranian ports and secondary sanctions, prompting the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, and Oman to cancel related flights.

Addressing reporters on Monday, US President Donald Trump maintained a confident stance, declaring that the US would win quickly and that gas prices would subsequently fall. In contrast, Iranian leadership struck a defiant tone. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei referenced the Iran-Iraq War and Israel’s killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in 2024, asserting that the era of foreign domination is over. Major-General Ali Abdollahi and Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari echoed these sentiments, warning of a decisive response to any threats and confirming that the Strait of Hormuz remains closed.