US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on Tuesday that Washington is open to holding a meeting with Iranian officials on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York. This development comes as Iran's delegation to the UN has been authorized to revive diplomatic efforts with the US. Rubio's comments were made amidst ongoing tensions between the US and Iran.
According to a senior Iranian official, Iran's delegation in New York has been fully empowered to revive diplomacy with the US and negotiate an end to hostilities. This move is seen as a significant development in the relations between the two nations, which have been strained in recent years. The Iranian official also mentioned that a new proposal for an agreement to end hostilities was delivered to the US through intermediaries on September 16.
Rubio emphasized that the US remains committed to its obligations towards Saudi Arabia, amid ongoing conflict in Yemen. He described the conflict between the Houthis in Yemen and Saudi Arabia as "dangerous" and reiterated that the US will stand by Riyadh and continue to support it. The US Secretary of State also noted that oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz have currently reached 60-70% of their previous levels.
A senior Iranian official has ruled out a meeting between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and his US counterpart Donald Trump, stating that progress towards an agreement is still possible. Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, stressed that diplomacy does not mean surrender, describing negotiations as "another arena for war".
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has stated that it is ready to negotiate if it serves the national interest, but emphasized that the military institution will not engage in direct communication with the US. The IRGC also warned that any US or Israeli attack would be met with multiple responses across different fronts.
An Iranian official revealed that Tehran is prepared to discuss details of an agreement to end hostilities through intermediaries in New York. The proposal, which was delivered to the US on September 16, includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz within seven days in exchange for the US easing military pressure and lifting sanctions.
These developments come as the UN General Assembly convenes in New York, with Iran's President set to attend. The Iranian leadership has sought to balance maintaining open channels for negotiation with assertions of military capability, amid heightened tensions with the US and its allies.
Key points
- The US is open to meeting with Iranian officials on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
- Iran's delegation to the UN has been authorized to revive diplomatic efforts with the US.
- The US remains committed to its obligations towards Saudi Arabia amid ongoing conflict in Yemen.
