Iran presses demands at UN talks

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. Qatar’s foreign ministry said the talks focused on regional developments, de-escalation, dialogue, and efforts to strengthen regional security and stability.

A separate report said Abbas Araghchi also met US regional envoy Steve Witkoff at the insistence of the American side. According to the report, Iran used the meeting to present its conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including the immediate lifting of what it called the illegal naval blockade on Iranian ports and vessels, the release of frozen assets, and an end to the war on all resistance fronts.

Araghchi also met Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein, Greek Foreign Minister Giorgios Gerapetritis and Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov during the UN gathering. The United States also allowed a core Iranian delegation, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Araghchi, to attend the high-level week, though some additional staff were denied visas.

Meanwhile Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has pledged to firmly defend Iran’s positions and convey the country’s strength to the world during his upcoming address to the UN General Assembly and the meetings he is scheduled to hold on the sidelines.

He underlined the hardships endured by the Iranian people and servicemen on the path of preserving their unity and defending the nation in the face of foreign aggression.

“We emerged from it with our heads held high, and this is a source of dignity and pride for all of us. Therefore, we will firmly defend our positions in international forums,” he said.