Iran's FM Meets Qatari Mediators in New York as US Insists Nuclear Program Must Be Part of Any Deal

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held talks with Qatari mediators in New York on Monday, advancing a proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, even as a senior United States official made clear that Washington will not sign off on any agreement unless Iran's nuclear program is put on the table.

Speaking to Iranian state media after the meeting, Araghchi said the Qatari delegation would relay the ideas discussed to American officials and that he anticipated receiving Washington's final answer by Tuesday. He described the conversations as focused on "ideas and how to find solutions" to satisfy the conditions Iran has set for de-escalation, adding that the Qataris had brought their own suggestions, which were discussed and would also be presented to the US side.

The Iranian diplomat indicated he would not remain in New York to wait for a response, saying he planned to fly back to Tehran within hours. "Whenever the Qataris have a response, they know how to get it to us," he said, suggesting the mediation channel would continue operating remotely. He characterized the latest meetings as part of a pre-existing exchange of messages conducted through both Qatari and Pakistani intermediaries, which he said had entered "a more serious form" since Iran formally submitted its proposal.

That proposal, unveiled on Friday during the United Nations General Assembly in New York, sets out a sequenced path to de-escalation. Under the plan, the US would release frozen Iranian assets, lift sanctions and end its naval blockade of Iranian ports. Araghchi said those steps could be completed within four to five days, after which the Strait of Hormuz would reopen and negotiations on a comprehensive final agreement — including the contentious issue of Iran's nuclear program — would begin by the seventh day.

The proposal was swiftly rejected by US President Donald Trump on Saturday, who called it "unacceptable." The American position appears to center on sequencing: according to a US official who spoke to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity, indirect discussions are ongoing and have been "positive and constructive," but no deal is possible without addressing Tehran's nuclear ambitions. The official said Trump is prepared to ease sanctions and unfreeze Iranian funds, but only in exchange for concrete progress on nuclear issues.

The same official acknowledged that Iran has signaled flexibility on nuclear matters, though the two sides remain at odds over the timing of commitments and which party should move first — a classic standoff in prolonged negotiations where each side fears being left exposed if it acts prematurely. The official also voiced skepticism about Iranian intentions, accusing Tehran of violating the memorandum of understanding signed in June by firing on commercial vessels. Iran rejects that charge, countering that Washington breached its own commitments by failing to stop Israeli attacks on Lebanon and by pursuing alternative shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz.

The waterway, which before the war carried roughly 20 percent of the world's oil and gas supplies, was closed by Iran shortly after the US and Israel launched their offensive on February 28. Iranian attacks on vessels have since sharply reduced shipping traffic, pushing oil prices above $100 a barrel and unsettling global energy markets. Despite the disruption, crude exports from major Middle East producers rebounded in September to 12.8 million barrels per day — their highest level since the conflict began, according to Reuters, citing data from maritime intelligence firm Kpler. That figure, however, remains far below the 18.8 million bpd exported in February.

To keep oil flowing, some ships have used a US military-supervised route hugging the coast of Oman, traveling at night with tracking systems switched off and offloading cargo onto tankers waiting outside the strait. Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, said on Saturday that American forces had assisted 2,000 transits and more than 1 billion barrels of oil in recent months. Washington has also imposed a blockade on Iranian ports and threatened secondary sanctions against airports and companies doing business with Iranian airlines. The United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Oman have already canceled related flights, a sign of how far the economic pressure campaign extends beyond Iran's borders.

Trump, speaking to reporters on Monday, said US officials had likewise been in contact with mediators but projected confidence about the outcome. "We're going to win," he said, adding that the conflict would conclude "pretty quickly" and that gasoline prices would fall once Washington prevailed. His remarks suggest the White House views military and economic pressure as leverage to force concessions rather than as a prelude to a negotiated settlement on terms favorable to Tehran.

In Tehran, officials struck a defiant tone. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, in a message marking the anniversary of the Iran-Iraq War and the 2024 killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, declared that the era of foreign domination had ended. He claimed that Iran's fighters and the "guardians of the Strait of Hormuz" had inflicted painful blows on the enemy, deterring them from venturing beyond the Arabian Sea. "Whenever they have risked doing so, they have only inflicted harm upon themselves," Khamenei said, predicting that the Arabian Sea would soon be cleared of foreign presence as well.

Major-General Ali Abdollahi, the armed forces chief of staff, warned that Iran and allied forces would deliver a "decisive and devastating response" to any threat against the country. Rear Admiral Habibollah Sayyari, meanwhile, insisted the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and said Iranian forces are prepared to prevent enemy forces from entering the country.

The contrasting messages from Washington and Tehran underscore how far apart the two sides remain, even as Qatari and Pakistani mediators shuttle proposals between them. Iran's plan offers a rapid, sequenced de-escalation in exchange for economic relief; the US insists that nuclear limits must be part of any bargain, not deferred to a later stage. With oil prices elevated, shipping lanes disrupted and both governments projecting resolve, the coming days will reveal whether the mediation channel can bridge the gap — or whether the war will continue to grind on with global energy markets as its collateral.