Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed this week, that Tehran has submitted a seven-day plan to the United States via Qatari mediators to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and restart nuclear talks. The proposal, presented on the sidelines of the 81st U.N. General Assembly in New York, is a compressed version of the June Islamabad Memorandum that previously collapsed, designed to move from a 60-day negotiation window to a seven-day implementation timeline.

The proposal outlines a plan that includes an immediate end to all hostilities, including in Lebanon and Gaza; lifting U.S. naval blockade of Iranian ports; sanctions waiver on Iranian oil exports; and the release of at least $12 billion in frozen Iranian assets.

If Washington accepts the terms, the seven-day clock starts the following day, with the Strait of Hormuz reopening on the final day to allow comprehensive nuclear negotiations to begin immediately, including frameworks to re-admit UN nuclear inspectors (IAEA) to inspect nuclear stockpiles and damaged facilities.

Araghchi said that a deal before the U.S. midterm elections would be preferable, noting that the economic impact of the strait's closure on global energy prices is a critical pressure point. He detailed the proposal to reporters and in private briefings on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York.

While U.S. officials described discussions as "positive and constructive," they emphasized they are not rushing into an agreement, and UAE and Saudi Arabia have reportedly expressed skepticism about the latest push.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly 20% of global oil flows—triggered record-high energy and gasoline prices globally.

Pezeshkian Vows Iran Will Resist US-Israeli Aggression 'Until The Very End'

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian appeared on Fox News on Thursday, following a defiant address to the UN General Assembly the day prior. He slammed the U.S. and Israel for imposing war on Iran, insisting Tehran does not seek conflict but will resist "until the very end."

The president said that "it is America that must choose whether it wants to end this or not," placing the responsibility for peace squarely on the Donald Trump administration. Despite seeking a deal, he vowed Iran would "keep resisting" U.S. sanctions and military strikes, stating, "We will find ways, and the life of our country will continue."

Pezeshkian categorically rejected any intent to build nuclear weapons, citing a religious decree by the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that deems it "unholy and illegal." He said Iran is ready to dilute its 60% enriched uranium reserves and accepted verification under the NPT framework.

The president noted the war was "imposed" on Iran by U.S. and Israeli "instigations." He expressed willingness to revive the June memorandum for peace, which collapsed over disputes regarding the Strait of Hormuz. He denied that U.S. midterm elections influence Iran's timeline for a deal.

On the cinflict in Yemen, Pezeshkian said that the Houthis are "responsible for their own actions" and that Iran has "no systematic relationship" with them, contradicting U.S. claims of direct Iranian command.

The interview followed Pezeshkian's historic UN speech on Wednesday, where he became the first world leader to address the UNGA while his country is at active war with the host nation. He held up photos of Ali Khamenei, who was assassinated in a US-Israeli strike on February 28, 2026, and in which over 150 schoolchildren were killed. The U.S. and Israeli delegations boycotted or walked out of his address. The conflict, now in its seventh month, has seen repeated breakdowns in diplomacy.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a historic and defiant address to the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, becoming the first world leader to speak in person while his country is at active war with the host nation, the United States. Speaking a day after President Donald Trump threatened to "annihilate" Iran if a peace deal was not reached, Pezeshkian accused the U.S. and Israel of committing terrorism, war crimes, and violating international law.

Pezeshkian held up photographs of Ali Khamenei, the late Iranian Supreme Leader who was assassinated in the first hours of the U.S.-Israeli offensive in February 2026, as well as images of over 150 schoolchildren killed in a U.S. airstrike on a primary school in Minab.

The Iranian president said that a UN fact-finding mission found "reasonable grounds" to believe the U.S. committed a war crime in that attack. He further condemned the targeting of Iranian universities, hospitals, and infrastructure, asserting that Iran has "only defended itself" and will fight "until our last breath."

Addressing Trump by name, Pezeshkian rejected the U.S. president's characterization of Iran as a "bully" or "terrorist," declaring, "We have been the victims of terrorism." He vowed Iran would never "bend the knee" to sanctions or bullying but emphasized that Tehran remains "ready for dialogue and diplomacy and negotiations without accepting the language of force."

"The United States president described us as terrorists. We have been the victims of terrorism... We will never bow our head or bend at the knee in the face of sanctions, increased pressure, and increased bullying," Pezeshkian said.

Pezeshkian specified that any deal must include the end of the U.S. naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz and the release of frozen Iranian assets. He heavily criticized Israel's "double standard," noting that Israel possesses nuclear weapons and kills civilians in Gaza yet faces no sanctions, while Iran is punished for seeking equal rights.

"Atomic and nuclear bombs are in the hands of the Israeli regime, but the inspectors are requested to come to Iran. Israel kills, but Iran is subject to sanctions," the Iranian president said.

Despite the fierce rhetoric, Pezeshkian closed his speech by stating that Iran remains willing to return to the negotiating table, provided force and coercion are dropped. "We are ready for dialogue, diplomacy, and negotiations without accepting the language of force," he said.

The U.S. delegation walked out during Pezeshkian's speech, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio subsequently dismissed the speech, questioning Iran's standing to lecture on human rights.

Pezeshkian, elected in July 2024 as a reform-minded candidate initially seeking to ease Western sanctions, has seen his presidency defined by intense military conflict. Following the military strikes in early 2026 and the assassination of Supreme Leader in February 2026, Pezeshkian has had to balance pressure from hardline factions at home while attempting to keep diplomatic channels open abroad.

President Donald Trump delivered a 37-minute address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York City on Tuesday, in which he threatened to “annihilate the Islamic Republic” of Iran if a deal to end the ongoing war is not reached. Framing his decision as a binary choice, he said he would either allow Iran to “rebuild and create a far greater country” or “drive them into hell with no chance of survival.”

"Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before? Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic, and do it quickly... drive them into hell with no chance of survival...?" Trump said.

Trump called on all nations to enforce the “complete economic isolation of Iran” and maintain sanctions to bring down global energy prices. Iranian delegation reportedly walked out of the General Assembly hall during his address.

Trump defended the war, which began in February 2026 alongside Israel, as a necessary action to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, dismissing reports of U.S. munitions shortages despite Pentagon inspector general reports of “strategic inventory shortfalls.”

The U.S. president later expressed confidence that a deal would ultimately be struck shortly after the upcoming U.S. midterm elections, asserting that Iranian officials are “waiting to see how I do” in that vote.

Iran’s armed forces condemned the speech as an “exploitation of the U.N.’s podium to legitimize aggression.” President Masoud Pezeshkian is scheduled to address the assembly on Wednesday.

Shortly after his speech, Trump announced that U.S. officials, including envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, held a “very good” three-hour meeting with Iranian representatives at the U.N.

Beyond Iran, Trump touted U.S. operations in Venezuela, issued warnings to Cuba and Mexico regarding national security, announced plans to build two new military bases in Greenland via agreements with Denmark, and criticized international bodies like the UN Human Rights Council and the ICC.

On the sidelines of the 2026 UN General Assembly, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff confirmed that American and Iranian delegations held a three-hour meeting mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, marking the first high-level contact between the sides in months.

Witkoff described the talks as "constructive and promising," stating in an X post, that mediators "shuttled between the two sides" throughout the day. President Donald Trump characterized the outcome as "very good" and "very productive."

The U.S. delegation included Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, while the Iranian side was led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was also present in New York.

Although Trump initially suggested direct talks, Witkoff clarified via X that the negotiations were indirect, with mediators facilitating communication between the two delegations.

Iranian state media confirmed that Foreign Minister Araghchi presented Tehran’s non-negotiable conditions to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz. These terms include: an immediate lifting of the U.S. naval blockade, unfreezing seized Iranian financial assets abroad and an immediate halt to military operations across all regional fronts.

The meeting occurred against the backdrop of an ongoing conflict, with Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi noting that discussions took place under the "constant threat of attack" as the U.S. conducted consecutive nights of strikes on Iranian military targets.

This indirect session marks the first high-level diplomatic exchange between Washington and Tehran since mid-June.

As part of the U.S. campaign to enforce maximum economic pressure and isolate Tehran, Washington has imposed secondary sanctions on foreign entities doing business with Iranian transport and aviation infrastructure, notably Mahan Air and Iran Air.

Beijing has consistently rejected unilateral U.S. sanctions against Iranian transport and aviation, maintaining that economic relations and trade with Iran comply with international law. China continues to reject Washington's efforts to enforce unilateral extra-territorial jurisdiction over non-U.S. entities, officials say.