Iranian FM Araghchi meets Witkoff and Kushner in New York as Trump warns of 'annihilation'

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner in New York on Tuesday for three-hour mediated talks, hours after President Donald Trump warned of potential "annihilation" in his UN address. The discussions, facilitated by Qatar among other mediators, covered Iran-US tensions and conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Witkoff called the talks "constructive and promising," marking the first direct contact at this level in roughly three months. Iran demanded an end to the US naval blockade, unfreezing of assets, and termination of the multi-front war. A senior Iranian official suggested the strait could reopen within a week if Washington eased military and economic pressure.