Iran has denied dropping former preconditions over the strait of Hormuz after surprise, Qatar-mediated talks with US envoys at the UN in New York, which President Donald Trump described as 'very productive'.
Key facts
- Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi met US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in talks mediated by Qatar.
- The three-hour meeting took place in a room at UN headquarters in New York.
- Trump described the talks as going very well and said further talks were possible imminently.
- Witkoff called the talks 'encouraging, constructive and successful'.
- Brent crude fell below $100 a barrel for the first time in two weeks.
Iran has pushed back on claims that it dropped former preconditions for reopening the strait of Hormuz, following surprise talks held in New York, according to the Guardian.
The meeting brought together Tehran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, and Donald Trump’s envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, under the mediation of Qatar. The three-hour discussion took place in a room at the UN headquarters.
Trump said the talks had gone very well and been very productive, and suggested that further talks were possible imminently. His envoy Steve Witkoff described the discussions as ‘encouraging, constructive and successful’.
The prospect of continued negotiations had an immediate effect on energy markets. The price of a barrel of Brent crude fell to below $100 for the first time in two weeks, the Guardian reported.
Despite the upbeat characterisation from the US side, Iran denied reports that it had eased its earlier conditions, underscoring the gap that can remain between how each party frames the outcome of sensitive diplomatic contacts.
Why it matters
The strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important shipping routes for oil, so any easing of tensions between Iran and the United States can have direct consequences for global energy prices. The fall in Brent crude shows how markets react quickly to signals that a diplomatic breakthrough may be possible.
Frequently asked questions
Who took part in the New York talks?
Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi met US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, in a meeting mediated by Qatar at UN headquarters in New York.
How did the talks affect oil prices?
After Trump suggested further talks were possible, the price of a barrel of Brent crude fell to below $100 for the first time in two weeks, according to the Guardian.
Did Iran drop its preconditions?
Iran denied claims that it had dropped its former preconditions for reopening the strait of Hormuz.