US, Iran hold ‘very good’ talks, Trump says at UN meeting

What Happened

At the United Nations General Assembly in New York, US President Donald Trump told reporters that US officials held a 'very good' three-hour meeting with Iranian leaders on Tuesday. Trump said US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who have led negotiations with Iran, took part in the meeting. Witkoff also described the meeting as 'very good' but offered no further details. Trump said another meeting was scheduled 'in the very near future'; the White House referred Al Jazeera to the president's comments when asked where the second set of talks would take place. Trump did not share what was discussed, but said Iran faced a choice between 'potential greatness or obliteration', and in his UN address asked, 'Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly?' Al Jazeera Chief US Correspondent Alan Fisher said the meeting and Trump's speech created a 'weird juxtaposition' but noted 'an air of optimism' about moving toward a peace deal. Trump signalled a deal could come after the US congressional elections in November, claiming Iran is 'waiting to see' how his Republican Party performs, and said he gave 'absolutely no credence' to the election regarding Iran.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The meeting, if confirmed, signals a direct diplomatic channel between Washington and Tehran at a time when Trump is publicly threatening to 'annihilate' the Islamic Republic. A potential deal could defuse nuclear tensions and alter the US sanctions architecture, but the juxtaposition of threats and talks leaves the trajectory uncertain. Trump's linkage of a possible deal to the November US congressional elections adds domestic political timing to an already volatile regional standoff.

Watch For

The White House and Iranian officials have not confirmed a date or location for the next meeting, which Trump said is scheduled 'in the very near future'. Monitor for an official announcement of that meeting, any readout from the Iranian side, and whether Trump's threat rhetoric escalates or recedes before the US congressional elections in November—he indicated a deal could come after those elections.