US and Iran Hold First Direct Talks in Months Amid Strait of Hormuz Explosions

The United States and Iran held their first direct talks in months on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, with President Donald Trump calling the meeting "very good" and hinting at further negotiations. The engagement came hours after Trump threatened to "annihilate" Iran if no deal is reached soon. The roughly three-hour meeting involved US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, with Iranian state media reporting Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was part of the delegation. Trump noted the Iranian officials were "not the highest level," while Witkoff said talks were conducted through mediators shuttling between both teams. The diplomatic engagement was overshadowed by reports of an explosion near Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, a site of previous blasts since the US-Israeli war on Iran began in February. The nearly seven-month conflict has disrupted global energy prices and triggered a currency crisis in Iran.