Iran Presents US With Roadmap for Regional Ceasefire and Hormuz Reopening in Direct New York Talks

September 23, 2026 — Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met US Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, mediated by Qatar, Pakistan and Egypt, for roughly three hours — the first direct high-level US-Iran contact since Trump rejected Pezeshkian's Sep 1 ceasefire overture. Iran presented a roadmap proposing a regional ceasefire of up to 60 days, a phased reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, an end to the US economic blockade, a halt to strikes on Iran's Arab neighbors, and a defined negotiation timeline during the truce. Trump said the meeting was 'very good' and that a further round was 'scheduled in the very near future,' with a possible follow-up in Salalah, Oman, but said he would not lift the blockade until Iran shows 'sufficient goodwill,' calling for Iran's 'complete economic isolation' absent an end to its nuclear ambitions and support for proxy groups. The contact follows Iran security chief Mohsen Rezaei's Sep 19 statement that Tehran had already conveyed conditions to Qatari and Pakistani mediators.