Witkoff, Kushner meet mediators as Iran sets demands for reopening Hormuz

What Happened

At the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with mediators to discuss a possible deal to end the Iran conflict, describing a "very good" three-hour meeting with the Iranian delegation. Separately, Iran's state media reported that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff on the sidelines of the General Assembly and conveyed Iran's conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz: an immediate lifting of what Iran describes as a naval blockade, immediate release of frozen Iranian assets, and an end to the war across all 'resistance' fronts. A senior Iranian official said Tehran could reopen the strait within days if the US eased military pressure and lifted its blockade on Iranian ports. Trump repeated a threat to annihilate Iran if it failed to strike a deal and said Washington and Tehran were moving toward a settlement, while warning Iran to act quickly before it is too late.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The reported direct US-Iran contacts at the UN General Assembly, combined with Iran's public conditions on the Strait of Hormuz, tie Gulf shipping security directly to sanctions relief and broader regional wars. A reopening of the strait would affect global oil flows, while any US rejection could sharpen the military standoff. Trump's simultaneous threat to 'annihilate' Iran and claim of progress shows the negotiations are occurring under coercive pressure.

Watch For

Watch whether the United States formally responds to Iran's three conditions or eases naval and economic pressure, and whether the Strait of Hormuz is reopened or shipping traffic changes. Monitor follow-up meetings between Witkoff, Kushner, and Iranian officials on the UN General Assembly margins, as well as any statements from the IAEA or E3 on the nuclear file and whether Trump's 'before it's too late' deadline is translated into a concrete diplomatic or military escalation.