Washington (GNP): As the US and Iran continue to wage war, the dialogue between the two has taken a new turn with world leaders heading to New York for the 81st United Nations General Assembly. The UN conference has provided a chance for Washington and Tehran to discuss how to resolve the conflict.
The latest diplomatic efforts started with indirect US–Iran talks via mediators on the sidelines of the General Assembly. Mediators exchanged with both sides as US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner discussed with their Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi. One of the key issues discussed was the conditions for the cessation of hostilities and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for the world’s energy supply.
One of the major sticking points in the talks has been the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has said it will think about reopening the waterway if the U.S. scales back military pressure and removes restrictions on Iranian shipping. The Iranian capital Tehran has also put up questions such as unfreezing of Iranian assets and lifting of the U.S. naval blockade.
US President Donald Trump has asserted in his General Assembly speech that a settlement with Iran will be possible in the long term, but defended the military campaign against the country. During his speech he put pressure on Tehran, and said he was willing to pursue an agreement.
Tehran, through its President Masoud Pezeshkian, who spoke to the General Assembly on 23 September, has pointed out that it is not against pressure, as long as it is not military, but it is ready for diplomacy. He said that there should be no threats or coercion during negotiations.
Diplomacy moves beyond Washington and Tehran. Shuttle diplomacy has been ongoing in Qatar, as has been a parallel channel with Tehran by Pakistan. There’s an interest in regional states to prevent further escalation and to keep the Strait of Hormuz free for navigation.
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But all the new diplomacy has not yet yielded an agreement. Despite the start of talks, the two sides still had significant differences on the way to end the war, Reuters reported on 23 September.
The UN General Assembly is a platform for diplomacy and confrontation. Senior officials of the United States and Iran have met indirectly in New York for the first time in weeks. Meanwhile, the military pressure and the sanctions are still present, on the Strait of Hormuz and the whole region.
The ongoing diplomatic effort shows how diplomacy can work in a multilateral and coordinated way in the midst of an armed conflict. The renewed communication does not necessarily signal that the New York negotiations could lead to a more permanent ceasefire or to a broader settlement, but it does offer a way for Washington and Tehran to hold talks if the conflict doesn’t end.
