US and Iran hold first talks in three months as Trump threatens 'annihilation'

US and Iranian officials held their first talks in three months, a three-hour meeting in New York mediated by Qatar, on the same day President Donald Trump threatened Iran with "annihilation" from the UN podium. The meeting produced no major breakthrough. US special envoy Steve Witkoff expressed satisfaction with the talks, which followed a June meeting in Switzerland where a memorandum was signed. Iran reiterated its demand that the US end "acts of aggression," while a senior Iranian official said Tehran is ready to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week if the US takes reciprocal steps to reduce military and economic pressure. The conflict continues with sporadic exchanges of fire, US strikes on Iranian targets and a blockade of Iranian ports, while Iran has attacked ships in the strait. Trump has also threatened sanctions on any country trading with Iran, and Iran-backed Houthi attacks on Saudi oil transport have escalated the regional conflict.