US and Iran deadlock as tentative ceasefire extension and talks on nuclear issue face flare-ups

ALTHOUGH no breakthrough was achieved at the UN General Assembly, there has been some progress where finding a negotiated solution to the US war on Iran is concerned. For example, both the American and Iranian delegations held talks mediated by Qatar, while the Iranian president told Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that Tehran was still committed to the Islamabad MoU. Moreover, other reports indicate that both the US and Iran are looking for an off-ramp, with Tehran offering to open the Strait of Hormuz for marine traffic if Washington ends its blockade of Iran. The key question is: who will blink first in this battle of wits, as neither side will want to appear weak? Now it is up to both sides — as well as the states mediating this conflict — to take forward the progress made in New York. As the US, along with Israel, initiated this aggression, it should take the first step and offer confidence-building measures to Iran in order to de-escalate the situation and come to a long-term settlement. Though White House officials have said Iran is ‘desperate’ for a deal, the fact is that high fuel prices are also hurting the Trump administration at home. An unpopular war coupled with high inflation is not likely to have a positive effect on the Republicans’ chances going into November’s midterm elections. In a meeting on the UNGA sidelines, Mr Trump’s Gulf allies reportedly asked him for a post-midterm strategy regarding Iran. Perhaps something can come out of the interactions at the UN. However, the talks must not be a ruse to open Hormuz and to merely suspend hostilities and stabilise oil prices until the US midterms. There are some indications that the Trump administration may be considering kinetic action after the elections. It would mean a disastrous new confrontation in the Middle East. Hopefully, wiser counsel will prevail in Washington. The way forward seems simple. The US must approach Iran with sincerity, and the talks must not be a smokescreen for further military action later. The blockade of Iran should be lifted and its funds released to enable a longer-term peace. Tehran, on its part, should commit to keeping Hormuz open in the interest of both its neighbours and the wider international community, while also refraining from targeting the Gulf states. Also, any new agreement should cover all fronts: Gaza, Lebanon and Yemen. Although these are separate conflicts, they are also interlinked as Iranian allies are involved in all of them fighting Israel, the US and Saudi Arabia. Hence, a peace treaty with Iran alone may not last unless there is also calm in other regional theatres, while there is a particular need to rein in Israel’s murderous attacks on regional states. Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2026

"I'm Rejecting Their Deal": Trump Blasts Iranian Proposal Amid Reports He'll Resume Bombing After Midterms Speaking to reporters Saturday on the White House lawn, President Trump offered his first direct confirmation that he has rejected an Iranian proposal for a seven-day ceasefire and is open to the resumption of attacks on the Islamic Republic, as it still insists on its strict demands for reopening the Strait of Hormuz and ending the war. The night prior, The Wall Street Journal was the first to report that "President Trump has rejected Iran’s proposal for a seven-day ceasefire and has told aides he expects to resume bombing Iran after the November midterms, U.S. officials said." Here's how the president responded to a reporter's question Saturday morning: Reporter: Will you strike Iran after the midterms? Trump: I'm rejecting their deal. They want to make a deal where they open the Strait immediately because they're losing so badly. They want to make a deal, and I think that's fine. I like making a deal, too, but that deal would… pic.twitter.com/87rKbDySLN — Clash Report (@clashreport) September 26, 2026 "Well I’m rejecting their deal," Trump responded. While in the fresh verbal interaction he did not explicitly state he plans to resume bombing, he also obviously did not deny the premise of the question (resumption of bombing Iran). "They want to make a deal where they open the strait immediately because they’re losing so badly," Trump continued. "You know you don’t read that, you don’t see that in the fake news." "We're winning tremendously. We have total control of the Hormuz Strait, massive amounts of oil are coming out of the Hormuz Strait," he claimed. "Last night we had 29 ships come out. They want to make a deal, and I think that’s fine, I like making a deal, too, but that deal would not be acceptable." "And what they want to do is immediately open the Hormuz Strait. You know why? Because they’re dying," Trump said. "You know why they’re dying? Because they have no money coming in. Because they get their money from the Hormuz Strait." He continued: “So they outsmarted themselves. They said, ‘Let’s close it and cause a problem for the world.’ And then I came along and we put up the greatest blockade ever in military history. It’s a wall of steel." "I would put it up and guess what? They don’t have any money now because they wanted to close the strait. And I said, ‘That’s fine, we’re going to close it on you. But everybody else is able to use it,'" Trump added. Analysis: President Trump thinks a better deal is just around the corner and he is willing to set the region on fire again in his pursuit of it. Unfortunately, my pessimism on the U.S.-Iran talks held up. The technical details of a new understanding were not difficult to hammer out. But the political commitment for peace is lacking. President Trump thinks a better deal is just around the corner and he is willing to set… https://t.co/bbU5Pp6iim — Esfandyar Batmanghelidj (@yarbatman) September 26, 2026 For a brief moment there was hope that the warring sides could get back to 'technical talks' based on interactions on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York this past week. Some premature headlines even stated talks at the technical level were already taking place, which the Iranian side was quick to deny. But at this point that scenario is clearly not going to happen coming out of the UNGA gathering, as President Masoud Pezeshkian has also now flown out of New York and is headed home, state media outlets have indicated. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi ⁠previously said, "If the necessary conditions are met, the strait can be reopened, a normal maritime passage restored within seven days. The choice ‌now ⁠rests with the United States." He explained: "The actions that the United States should take ⁠are not new. They are all already in the MoU." Tehran has said all along it would not back off its conditions for ending the war. The FM was said to be waiting in New York for a response before going back to Tehran. Presumably he too will now return to his country. 🔴 US President Donald Trump informed the negotiating team that there is no going back to the memorandum of understanding with Iran, a US source tells Al Arabiya English 🔴 The US source says Trump told his team that the Iranian negotiators are not decision makers 🔴 Trump… pic.twitter.com/Kc2F2P7Bzg — Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) September 26, 2026 Trump was clearly not satisfied with the Iranian 7-day roadmap after he demanded the "complete dismantling" of Iran's nuclear program as a key condition for any deal. The Iranians have insisted the question of nuclear enrichment can only be discussed after the war is ended, saving the issue for a future time. What's the next phase or gameplan here from Washington's perspective? Regional analyst and editor of Amwaj.media, Mohammad Ali Shabani, offers the following: "The next phase of the war will likely revolve around destroying Iran's economic infrastructure. The method is collective immiseration until desperate Iranians with nothing to lose will do the regime change." This of course sets the US on a trajectory of yet another 'forever war' in the region. Tyler Durden Sat, 09/26/2026 - 12:00

Washington DC: In a development that will put the world and West Asia on tenterhooks, Wall Street Journal has reported that President Trump has rejected Iran’s proposal for a seven-day ceasefire.According to the report, which quoted US officials, the US President has told aides he expects to resume bombing Iran after the November midterms. This follows his open threat of annihilating Iran made during his speech to the UN General Assembly earlier this week. U.S. President Donald Trump on Iran: “I have a big decision to make. Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before, maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world? Or do I annihilate the… pic.twitter.com/OzmIRQzNQC— Political Pen (@politicalpen_) September 22, 2026 “I have a big decision to make. Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before? Maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world. Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic, and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again? But I believe we'll make a deal right after the election, because it doesn't make sense for them not to,” he told the Assembly on September 22.On Thursday, Iran's foreign Minister Syed Abbas Aragchi had said that Iran has offered a seven-day plan to end the conflict in West Asia. The plan would also seek to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and then begin comprehensive talks on Iran’s nuclear program.Araghchi, told reporters at the United Nations General Assembly that the proposal was similar to the MoU reached between US and Iran in June this year.Iran Foreign Minister offers U.S. 7-day plan for opening the Strait of Hormuz: "The choice now rests with the United States." pic.twitter.com/BWaY8ip4gP— CSPAN (@cspan) September 25, 2026 “We have introduced a plan to the United States through the intermediators that if certain conditions are met, the Strait of Hormuz would be open on the end of the seventh day and talks would restart...it would be better, if a deal was reached before the U.S. midterm elections,” he said.In his meeting with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, Araghchi stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran has conveyed to the American side its reasonable conditions and requirements for advancing diplomacy, emphasizing that restoring security to the region requires an end to US interventionist and aggressive actions against Iran.Oil Prices Fall As US-Iran Talks Raise Hopes Of Strait Of Hormuz Reopening And Easing Supply Disruption Fears The Iranian foreign minister underscored Iran’s commitment to pursuing diplomacy regarding its peaceful nuclear program, stressing that no party can ignore Iran’s good faith in the negotiations, as well as the US and Israeli military aggression against Iran in the midst of the talks, while portraying Iran as responsible for insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz.Meanwhile, in an interview with Fox News, Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian blamed US President Donald Trump and the American side for the failure to implement the negotiated settlement that both sides had reached at in June this year.Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian:We had previously reached an agreement based on the MoU that was signed in Pakistan. Now, in fact, there is a framework along the same path, with the same objectives that were established. Ultimately, the requests that were included in… pic.twitter.com/zhW8OeLuMz— Tabz (@TabzLIVE) September 26, 2026 "We did reach an agreement with your president, that agreement was signed, and based on that, we are willing and still wish to move forward. And the framework was agreed upon. We had not closed the Strait of Hormuz; it was open, without any legal justification or framework...They attacked us. They assassinated and martyred our esteemed supreme leader; our scientists are military commanders and government. The problem is that America, instead of conducting dialogue, they descend into the arena by bombing us first, by blocking every pathway. We are ready," he told Fox News.Now, with Trump rejecting a peace overture from the Iranians, the heat in West Asia is likely to get more intense once the US mid-term elections get done and dusted. (Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

Iran State Media Denies Technical Talks With US Are Happening Summary Tehran denes reports of 'technical talks' after it proposed 7-day roadmap to end the war and (eventually) restart nuclear talks. Hormuz reopening discussed in exchange for US concessions in NY, including lifting the blockade.  Tehran seeks sanctions relief, declares will hold to conditions, including restored oil exports and access to frozen funds. US-Iran talks reportedly show progress, with Qatar helping bridge differences. Escalation risk remains: Iran threatens a broader response - to 'spread war to Indian Ocean' if attacked again. Strait of Hormuz traffic returns to normal by December 31? Yes 27% · No 74%View full market & trade on Polymarket The Friday Afternoon Denial Via state media Fars: Axios and Al Jazeera's claim about Iran-US talks denied, reports Fars; News regarding another round of talks is false, and claims technical experts from Iran were sent to NY to join the talks, is untrue This was either the result of more premature or false Axios reporting, or else there's a possible in strategy divergence between IRGC vs. presidential delegation in New York. 'Technical Talks' Are we back to headline ping-pong pushing down oil prices? Latest: Iran-US negotiations in New York have moved beyond initial diplomatic contacts into a more detailed technical phase, with sources in Tehran describing the atmosphere as increasingly positive, CBS reports, citing Al Jazeera. And an official Iranian caution, or possibly even brush off, in reaction... Tehran signaling it intends to stick by its original conditions: Senior Iranian official says Strait of Hormuz will remain closed, no nuclear talks with US until Iran's conditions are met, Reuters reports, citing sources; Iran will make no concessions on its nuclear program AJ: A US official told Al Jazeera says Washington is in a strong position and controls the Strait of Hormuz, therefore we are not in a hurry to reach an agreement with Iran For a rehash of what's played out over the last 24 hours on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting: Iran's proposed seven-day plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if the US drops its blockade is being discussed as an accelerated version of a previously discussed 60-day process, and would include urgent measures to get both countries back into direct negotiations over Iran's nuclear programme. The key Iranian demands under discussion include sanctions relief, the lifting of restrictions on oil exports and access to frozen Iranian funds. The two sides also continue to discuss arrangements for the Strait of Hormuz, including whether Iran and Oman could return to a form of joint management under an agreed framework involving regional countries and the United States, as well as arrangements governing the passage of US vessels. Despite the outstanding issues, sources in Tehran characterised the negotiations as making some progress, with talks continuing and Qatar working to bridge differences between the two sides. Also, President Trump has just said he discussed the Iran conflict with China's Xi. And crude tumbles... BUT... Independent Iranian Journliast Ghaderi reiterates that the narrative presented by some US media is incomplete A few key points about the latest status of negotiations between #Iran and #America, that show the window for diplomacy is closing. I reiterate that the narrative presented by some US media is incomplete.👇 pic.twitter.com/zWriFfoorf — Mohammad Ghaderi | محمد قادری (@ghaderi62) September 25, 2026 7-Day Roadmap Proposed Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi has newly proposed to the US side a seven-day roadmap aimed at ending the war, while the top Iranian delegation is still in New York City engaged in deep diplomacy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Aragchi is said to be planning to stay through the weekend while waiting on a US response to the plan. So far it seems Tehran hasn't backed down from its core conditions, and its roadmap proposal is said to closely parallel the 14-point Memorandum of Understanding that was signed by President Trump back in June, but which has since completely collapsed. The plan is new but is still being largely seen as just repackaged. Q: Will you give up the 60% enriched uranium? Pezeshkian: Yes, within the framework of international law, based on the Nonproliferation Treaty. Whatever we are supposed to adhere to, we will. pic.twitter.com/6v9WqG9AMP — Clash Report (@clashreport) September 24, 2026 "Araghchi stressed that Iran was ready to begin putting the plan into effect as soon as Washington agreed to it," Al Jazeera reports. Interestingly, also last night Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told journalists, "We don't want it to get to the midterm elections." He added: "We wish Americans to return to the MoU before the midterms." Here's where things stand in terms of Iran's position being represented in New York: Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi said the Strait of Hormuz can reopen if certain conditions are met by the US and that it would be better to implement before the Midterms, according to a Sky reporter. IRGC spokesperson warned in the event of another attack, Iran's method of defence will change including geography of the confrontation, the type of equipment and weapons used, and targets in defensive operations in line with new conditions. This contradicted Trump's words given to the UN General Assembly during his speech. He said "They’re waiting to see how I do in the midterm election." White House spokesperson Anna Kelly had in follow-up to Trump's address said, "The President is courageously ensuring that such an evil country never possesses a nuclear weapon, which will make the entire world safer and more stable." Iran has said it will not be 'bullied' - but Pezeshkian appears to be offering something on the nuclear front alongside this seven-day roadmap overture, or at least according to a future timeline assuming a ceasefire is agreed to. He explained in a Fox interview that in accord the framework of international law, Iran could give eventually up highly enriched uranium. But he was also fundamentally using the moment to highlight who is not a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty - Israel. Packaging is new but what's inside is basically the offer that's been on the table for weeks: It's a return to the MOU, just on a compressed timetable But the message from both Washington and diplomats in the region has been that Trump isn't interested in returning to the MOU… — Gregg Carlstrom (@glcarlstrom) September 25, 2026 Pezeshkian further said it was up to the United States to choose when the war would end. "It's America that must choose whether it wants to end this or not," Pezeshkian said in response to a question by Fox's Bret Baier. Tehran has meanwhile said it is ready to escalate, and even spread the war beyond the Persian Gulf region, into the Indian Ocean for example (where the UK-US have the Diego Garcia base). Further UNGA Highlights Recap of some of the highlights from the UN this week, via Middle East Eye: The US-Israeli war on Iran and the Israel-Palestine conflict continued to occupy prime positions on the fourth day of the UN General Assembly. Somali President Mohamed Hassan Sheikh Mohamud said his country was "suffering" as a result of the US-Israeli war, which has driven up the price of energy and food. Meanwhile, European Union Council president said the EU supports efforts to “find a solution to the conflict". He added that "freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must be preserved without conditions and without hindrance". Crown Prince of Kuwait Sabah Al Khaled condemned the "illegal Iranian aggression" in his address to the UN Security Council on Thursday. Kuwait was one of the Gulf states hardest hit by Iran in retaliation for the US-Israeli war on the Islamic Republic. Kuwait is home to tens of thousands of US troops and military bases. US facilities in Kuwait were attacked along with civilian sites like Kuwait airport and energy infrastructure. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gave a pugnacious speech at the United Nations General Assembly, attacking everyone from New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the leaders of Western Europe, as he tried to counter Israel’s growing international isolation.  Meanwhile, hundreds of protesters took up positions around the UN headquarters before Netanyahu's arrival and continued protesting while he spoke inside. Support for Palestinian statehood and disappointment over the ongoing attacks on Gaza were repeatedly brought up during the event. Vice President of Yemen Abdullah Abdulkader al-Alimi-Bawzer condemned the Houthis in his address to the UN General Assembly and tried to rally the global community to help fight the group. He said the government of Yemen had supported a peace initiative backed by the governments of Saudi Arabia and Oman, while the Houthis rejected it and "instead escalated their actions in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb to serve an Iranian agenda". via Associated PressOvernight Developments Recap via Newsquawk Iran Foreign Minister Araghchi said Iran presented a proposal to US through mediators this week to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restart negotiations towards a final deal, while it called for US to meet certain conditions within 7 days, according to CNN. Iranian President Pezeshkian said in Fox News interview that Iran does not want a nuclear bomb. They reached an agreement with the US President that was signed, and are still ready to move forward based on the same principles, adds it wasn't Iran that closed the Strait of Hormuz and it was open. They didn't seek war and that it was imposed on them, while they don't seek war but will defend themselves. They didn't start the war but will respond decisively. Iranian President Pezeshkian said Iran is ready for an agreement with the US and makes demands only within the framework of international law and could give up highly enriched uranium if it reaches an agreement with the US, according to TASS. Iran's President Pezeshkian said Tehran wants to revive its ceasefire memorandum of understanding with the US before the November midterm elections, saying Iran does not want talks delayed until after the vote. said:. Iran is open to inspections of its nuclear facilities and denies that Tehran is seeking to assassinate President Trump or his family. Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi said the Strait of Hormuz can reopen if certain conditions are met by the US and that it would be better to implement before the Midterms, according to a Sky reporter. IRGC spokesperson warned in the event of another attack, Iran's method of defence will change including geography of the confrontation, the type of equipment and weapons used, and targets in defensive operations in line with new conditions. Iranian Brigadier General Sheikh said "we seek to expand our capabilities and reconsider our tactics and technologies", via Al Mayadeen. Sources say a return to the June 18 memorandum of understanding between Iran and the US is no longer sought by either side, with both seeking amendments to some clauses, further complicating negotiations, Al-Akhbar reported. Pakistan's Defence Minister said intensive efforts are underway to establish a mechanism for ending the conflict as quickly as possible and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to Tasnim. * * * Tyler Durden Fri, 09/25/2026 - 14:40

New York: Iran's foreign Minister Syed Abbas Aragchi says that Iran has offered a seven-day plan to end the conflict in West Asia, reported New York Times.Also Watch: According to the report, the plan would also seek to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and then begin comprehensive talks on Iran’s nuclear program.Araghchi, told reporters at the United Nations General Assembly that the proposal was similar to the MoU reached between US and Iran in June this year.NYT:Iran Proposes 7-Day Plan to End WarUnder the offer, the Strait of Hormuz would reopen and nuclear talks would be revived. pic.twitter.com/ghHijYbuJv— HFI Research (@HFI_Research) September 25, 2026 “We have introduced a plan to the United States through the intermediators that if certain conditions are met, the Strait of Hormuz would be open on the end of the seventh day and talks would restart...it would be better, if a deal was reached before the U.S. midterm elections,” he was quoted as saying by NYT.Earlier, in his meeting with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, Araghchi stressed that the Islamic Republic of Iran has conveyed to the American side its reasonable conditions and requirements for advancing diplomacy, emphasizing that restoring security to the region requires an end to US interventionist and aggressive actions against Iran.Iran Could Expand War To Indian Ocean In Response To Fresh US Attack: Khamenei Adviser The Iranian foreign minister underscored Iran’s commitment to pursuing diplomacy regarding its peaceful nuclear program, stressing that no party can ignore Iran’s good faith in the negotiations, as well as the US and Israeli military aggression against Iran in the midst of the talks, while portraying Iran as responsible for insecurity in the Strait of Hormuz.Araghchi further criticized European countries, including Germany, for ignoring US violations of international law and acts of bullying. He outlined Tehran’s positions on international developments, stressing that restoring confidence in the United Nations requires all countries to adhere to the principles and purposes of the UN Charter and international law.Meanwhile, in an interview with Fox News, Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian blamed US President Donald Trump and the American side for the failure to implement the negotiated settlement that both sides had reached at in June this year.Iran Threatens Neighbouring Countries Of Airport Disruption If They Support US' Aviation Sanctions "We did reach an agreement with your president, that agreement was signed, and based on that, we are willing and still wish to move forward. And the framework was agreed upon. We had not closed the Strait of Hormuz; it was open, without any legal justification or framework...They attacked us. They assassinated and martyred our esteemed supreme leader; our scientists are military commanders and government. The problem is that America, instead of conducting dialogue, they descend into the arena by bombing us first, by blocking every pathway. We are ready," he told Fox News.The Iranian assertion puts the ball firmly in Donald Trump's court. While the US President has indulged in rhetoric of threatening annihilation of Iran, he knows that a settlement would be the best way to end a conflict that is now on for seven months.(Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by FPJ's editorial team and is auto-generated from an agency feed.)

• Reports suggest Tehran could reopen Hormuz, may drop toll demand for blockade relief; but ‘neither side wants to move first’• Gulf states press Trump for post-midterms war strategy; 80 countries call for full restoration of Gulf shipping• UAE bars Iranian airline flights WASHINGTON: US and Iranian negotiators in New York are exploring a phased path out of war that would involve Tehran reopening the Strait of Hormuz and Washington lifting its economic blockade of Iran, sources close to the talks said. The strait, through which a fifth of the world’s oil passes, has become the central bargaining chip in efforts to end the war. Iran wants relief from a blockade that is strangling its economy; Washington wants free passage restored for ships on the vital oil route that Tehran has kept closed. Talks are complicated by a familiar diplomatic problem: neither side wants to move first. Two Iranian sources, two regional officials and two Western diplomats said the most workable option now on the table was a staged arrangement — Iran allowing ships through Hormuz in return for an end to the blockade and, potentially, access to frozen assets. “One way forward would be to solve the crisis in stages. The first would be to end the blockade and reopen Hormuz,” a senior Iranian official said on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Such a deal would require Donald Trump to accept another interim arrangement, after a previous understanding collapsed in July. The US president has suggested a fuller agreement might only be reached after November’s midterm elections. A senior European official said Iranian negotiators arrived in New York “with a very long list of demands”. The White House, for its part, has shown little urgency. “Iran is desperate for a deal, President Trump holds all the cards and will make whatever decision is best for the United States,” a White House official said, adding that “crushing sanctions” and “one of the most successful blockades in history” had left Tehran “completely broke”. Trump, the official suggested, was content to let an “inevitable Iranian collapse” continue rather than be rushed into concessions. Dennis Ross, a former US negotiator, put the chances of a deal before the midterms at roughly 30 per cent, though he noted both sides had reasons to want an agreement sooner rather than later. “The blockade is what’s really squeezing the Iranians. It’s strangling them,” he said. A pre-election deal could suit Trump too, easing Gulf tensions and helping bring down petrol prices at home. After the vote, Ross said, the president may feel freer to escalate pressure or consider military options. Tehran, meanwhile, is hedging. Even as it explores a diplomatic exit, Iran is preparing for the possibility of renewed conflict, accusing Washington of using the blockade and the threat of force as instruments of coercion. “Our fingers are on the trigger,” the senior Iranian official said. “The Americans know what they need to do but, because of their excessive demands, the chances of diplomacy resolving this are extremely low.” Regional sources said Iran was prepared to drop, or at least set aside, its demand for transit fees on shipping through Hormuz in order to prioritise ending the blockade. “Iran is not primarily focused on imposing tolls in Hormuz but on preserving its administrative control of the waterway,” the senior official said. “Iran may be willing to defer the toll issue, but they are not going to give up administrative control of the strait.” At the heart of the diplomacy in New York is a fundamental tension. Washington wants pressure to produce concessions, Tehran wants pressure removed before making them, and the Gulf states want the conflict resolved without allowing the region’s strategic waterways to become enduring bargaining chips. In a separate meeting in New York, Gulf leaders pressed Trump for clarity on his strategy beyond the midterms, including whether Washington would resume military action if Iran refused to negotiate. They made clear their rejection of any Iranian control over Hormuz, insisting freedom of navigation be restored and that the strait must not become a tool of coercion — while also urging de-escalation, reflecting Gulf states’ desire to stay out of further confrontation. “It’s still not clear what Trump’s endgame is, or what the alternative to the pressure campaign would be,” said Ebtessam al-Ketbi, president of the Emirates Policy Center in Abu Dhabi. “The Iranians, by contrast, know what they want. They’re reshaping the regional landscape through Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb with a clear objective, while Washington has yet to define its roadmap.” Alan Eyre, another former US negotiator, warned that the blockade’s pressure could backfire: rather than softening its position, he said, Tehran was more likely to escalate, believing that any sign of weakness would prove fatal to the regime. Adding to the diplomatic pressure, a coalition of 80 countries called at the UN on Thursday for the full restoration of maritime navigation in the Gulf. “We call for the full restoration of navigational rights and principles without delay,” said Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid al-Zayani, reading a joint statement to journalists. UAE suspends Iranian airline flights In a further sign of tightening pressure, the United Arab Emirates announced on Thursday that it would no longer accept flights operated by Iranian carriers, aligning itself with US sanctions targeting Iran’s aviation sector. Dubai has long been a key destination for Iranian airlines, serving multiple daily flights and a large Iranian community with close business ties to the emirate. The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority said the suspension was “based on the US sanctions imposed on Iranian airlines preventing them from using airports around the world”. The UAE, which was hit by thousands of Iranian missiles and drones early in the war, suspended trade and financial exchanges with Iran last month. On Wednesday its central bank blocked transactions with Iran’s Bank Melli, citing breaches of money-laundering, terrorism-financing and arms-proliferation rules. One passenger told AFP an Iran Airtour flight from Tehran to Dubai was cancelled shortly before departure on Thursday, after tickets had already been issued. Washington imposed sanctions on Iran’s aviation sector in early September, giving airlines until Wednesday to comply — including by halting the refuelling of Iranian aircraft — or risk being cut off from the dollar-based financial system. Iran’s main carriers were forced to cancel international flights this week as neighbouring states adopted similar restrictions; Turkmenistan turned back a flight from Tehran to Dushanbe on Thursday, an Iranian aviation official said, because it had not authorised the airline to fly. A handful of smaller Iranian carriers continue to operate abroad, notably to Armenia and to China, which has declined to follow Washington’s sanctions. Published in Dawn, September 25th, 2026