Iran rejects US threats as Tehran and Washington hold UN-side talks

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian rejected threats from US President Donald Trump during the United Nations General Assembly, stating that while Tehran is open to diplomacy, it will not accept the ‘language of force’. Pezeshkian’s remarks followed a speech by Trump, who warned that the US faced a choice between reaching a deal or ‘annihilating the Islamic Republic’.

Despite the rhetoric, the two nations have engaged in their first significant diplomatic contact in months. US officials, including special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, held discussions with Iranian representatives through Qatari mediation. While Trump described the meetings as ‘very productive’, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that reaching an agreement would require sustained effort and noted that military options remain on the table if Iran pursues nuclear weapons.

Key sticking points remain, particularly regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has linked the reopening of the waterway to the lifting of the US naval blockade, the end of economic sanctions, and the release of Iranian assets. Conversely, Washington is demanding the free movement of shipping through the strait and an end to Iran’s nuclear programme.