Iran and the United States signaled on Tuesday the possibility of reviving diplomatic talks amid ongoing tensions, as both countries’ presidents prepared to attend the United Nations General Assembly in New York later this week. This would mark the first time Donald Trump and Masoud Pezeshkian participate in the event since Trump launched "Operation Epic Fury" against Iran in February, an initiative coordinated alongside Israel.
Trump stated on Sunday that he would be open to meeting with the Iranian president. However, a senior Iranian official clarified that there were no plans for a direct meeting between the two leaders, while affirming that Iran’s delegation has full authority to restart negotiations. The official also indicated that if the United States addressed Tehran’s demands for reduced military pressure and lifted the American blockade on Iranian ports, Iran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz to Gulf shipping within a week. Tehran reportedly conveyed this proposal to Washington via intermediaries last week.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio commented on the potential for a meeting during an interview, calling it possible but emphasizing the influence of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei over President Pezeshkian. Rubio described the Iranian leadership as "lunatic clerics" and stressed that "these people can never have nuclear weapons," underscoring Washington’s skepticism toward the Iranian regime.
On the Iranian side, Parliament Speaker Mohammed Baqer Ghalibaf, who previously headed Iran’s negotiating team, reaffirmed Tehran’s uncompromising stance, stating that Iran would never surrender to external pressure. He warned Trump that America could not impose its will on the Iranian people and their armed forces.
In parallel, Trump met with leaders of six Gulf Arab states on Tuesday: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The region remains deeply affected by conflict, notably in Yemen, where Iranian-backed Houthi forces have made significant advances against the Saudi-supported government, raising concerns over the security of Saudi oil exports via the Red Sea.
Oil markets experienced some easing after reports emerged that Saudi Arabia had resumed operations at its East-West Pipeline and could soon restart exports from the Red Sea port of Yanbu, though at a reduced capacity. This development came amid heightened regional tensions stemming from the Yemen conflict and its broader geopolitical implications.