US, Iran hold surprise talks at UN General Assembly amid tensions

President Trump disclosed Tuesday that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met with Iranian officials during the annual gathering of world leaders at the UN General Assembly. The disclosure came hours after Trump addressed the assembly, where he threatened to "annihilate" Iran if a deal is not reached soon to end the nearly seven-month conflict.

Trump characterised the meeting as "very good" but provided limited details about the discussions or their substantive outcomes. He acknowledged the Iranian representatives present were not of the highest diplomatic level, yet described the engagement as a meaningful development in US-Iran relations.

The talks represent a significant thaw in communications between Washington and Tehran, which have largely stalled following the collapse of a ceasefire agreement brokered in June. Previous diplomatic efforts included separate meetings held in Doha in early July, where US and Iranian negotiators engaged in indirect talks with Qatari and Pakistani mediators.

The surprise engagement suggests both nations may be exploring renewed avenues for dialogue despite the escalating rhetoric, though the lack of transparency around the discussions leaves questions about potential pathways toward resolving the ongoing regional conflict.