US and Iran hold three-hour talks on reopening Strait of Hormuz
US and Iranian officials held three-hour talks in New York on Tuesday, discussing the Strait of Hormuz and conditions for its reopening, with President Donald Trump calling the meeting "very good." Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff at the request of Washington, marking the first direct contact in about three months. Tehran demanded an immediate lifting of the US naval blockade, release of frozen assets, and an end to wars across all fronts, including Lebanon. A senior Iranian official said the Strait could reopen within seven days if Washington scales back military action and lifts the blockade. Brent crude fell below $100 a barrel on the news, with Qatar and other regional nations supporting mediation efforts.