Breakdown of indirect talks in New York

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio instructed Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his diplomatic delegation to leave the United States on Monday evening. The directive followed a complete breakdown in indirect negotiations between Washington and Tehran held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Although the Trump administration had issued visas with strict travel restrictions to allow Iranian officials to attend the annual gathering, diplomatic friction persisted throughout the week. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian departed New York one day after delivering his official speech to the assembly, leaving Araghchi behind to conduct mediated discussions regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, terms for halting the broader war, and conditions for resuming negotiations over Iran's nuclear program.

Expulsion order and departure timelines

Although the White House initially anticipated tangible progress on Monday, talks mediated by Qatari officials reached a dead end by late afternoon. The US Mission to the United Nations subsequently notified the Iranian mission that Araghchi and his team had to leave the country immediately. US officials explained that Rubio determined the diplomats had overstayed their welcome because high-level general assembly sessions had concluded. According to sources cited by news agencies, the Iranian delegation had originally intended to remain in New York until Wednesday. Following the notification from American officials, Araghchi and his aides traveled to the airport and boarded a scheduled flight to Doha at 01:20 on Tuesday morning.

Tehran denies expulsion and cites prior flight schedule

The Permanent Mission of Iran to the United Nations disputed the claim that its diplomats were forced out of the United States. In an official statement published on social media, the Iranian mission asserted that the delegation departed New York on Monday night in accordance with a travel itinerary submitted to the US State Department in advance on 17 September. The mission characterized Washington's statements as baseless reports, alleging that American officials disseminated false information because the United States failed to secure any concessions during the New York talks. Tehran maintained that its delegation fulfilled its intended diplomatic agenda and departed precisely according to its original timetable.

Review of US proposal and escalating rhetoric

After arriving in Tehran via Doha, Araghchi presented the latest US negotiation proposal to President Pezeshkian and the Iranian cabinet. Iranian government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani confirmed through the state news agency IRNA that Iranian leadership is evaluating Washington's response regarding the Strait of Hormuz. The exchange followed President Donald Trump's earlier rejection of an Iranian seven-day plan to reopen the strategic waterway, which demanded that the United States lift its naval blockade. The conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran has reached its eighth month, marked by ongoing naval enforcement, economic sanctions, and maritime strikes on commercial oil tankers. Trump addressed the stalled diplomatic efforts on Wednesday.

“Maybe I will blow them up. We have to make that decision. Either we blow them up or we make a deal. But the time is getting close. It will end very soon. One way or the other.”

Regional mediators from Qatar continue to hold indirect discussions with both sides, attempting to negotiate a compromise on naval blockades and maritime transit through the Persian Gulf.