Trump: We held "productive talks" with Iran
Capitals – Agencies: US President Donald Trump announced yesterday that US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held a meeting lasting approximately three hours with intermediaries representing Iran in New York. He described the talks as “very good and highly productive,” confirming that another meeting will take place in the near future.
During his meeting with leaders of Arab and Islamic countries in New York, attended by a representative of His Highness Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad, the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid, Trump stated that Witkoff and Kushner had an “excellent” meeting with an Iranian delegation in New York. However, he noted that Tehran faces two options: one that is extremely bad, and the other that leads to greatness, in his words.
Trump elaborated, saying, “Both Steve and Jared held a highly productive meeting today with intermediaries representing Iran—just intermediaries—to see where things lead. These mediation efforts have been ongoing for some time, but I believe there is significant momentum toward reaching an agreement. That is what we are hearing from everyone.”
Trump also predicted, during his meeting with leaders and representatives of Arab and Islamic countries, that the war with Iran would end after the US midterm elections. He affirmed that Iran is completely economically isolated, stating, “In Iran, we have completely eliminated the terrorist leadership and destroyed its economy. The inflation rate there is now 300%, and its currency is collapsing. All of this is part of the process of economic isolation.”
He added, “In this regard, the Treasury Department has done an excellent job. We have completely isolated Iran economically and are pressuring it to make the right decision quickly before it is too late.”
Trump referred to the Iranian facility known as “Mount Pickaxe,” stating that the United States may attack the site if significant nuclear activity is detected there. He said, “We will bomb the Iranian Mount Pickaxe facility if necessary.”
He further added, “A large part of what we have done—perhaps 99% of it—was aimed at ensuring that Iran does not possess a nuclear weapon. Some sites have already been destroyed, and we may have to destroy another one, namely the ‘Mount Pickaxe’ site. While we are not currently detecting significant activity there, if we detect any activity, we will destroy it immediately.”
Trump also addressed Iranian attacks on commercial ships and neighboring countries, stating that they “highlighted the need to diversify energy infrastructure in the Middle East.” He spoke about supporting the economic corridor between India, the Middle East, and Europe, as well as other routes for oil transportation.
According to the official Iranian Broadcasting and Television Corporation, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with US envoy Steve Witkoff on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, conveying Tehran’s conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
The corporation quoted Araghchi as telling Witkoff that Tehran’s demands include “the immediate lifting of the US naval blockade, the prompt repayment of all frozen Iranian assets, and the end of the war on all fronts.”
For his part, Witkoff stated in a post on the X platform that he and Kushner held extensive talks with the Iranian delegation on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meetings, with intermediaries shuttling between the two sides throughout the day.
Witkoff added that the round of discussions was successful, expressing his hope that it would be constructive and promising, and confirming that the intermediaries will continue their work.
