Iran War LIVE: Iran in ‘indirect talks’ with US through Qatari intermediaries, official response likely on Tuesday — Araghchi | Today’s news
Iran War LIVE: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Monday (local time) that Tehran had held further indirect talks with Washington through Qatari mediators, adding that the Islamic Republic was awaiting an official response, expected by Tuesday. Speaking to reporters, Araghchi noted that the focus of his visit to the UN General Assembly last week was to highlight Tehran’s stance on regional tensions and the critical security situation in the Strait of Hormuz. Araghchi went on to say, “Our mission was to convey these conditions to the American side and to all other nations and to make sure that the international community is aware that Iran has a plan in this regard.”
Trump said U.S. officials met with Iranian mediators
According to a report in Al Jazeera, US President Donald Trump said on Monday (local time) that US officials had held discussions with Tehran’s mediators. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump confirmed the discussions; he did not share any details about the said meeting. At the White House, Trump reiterated his claim that the United States will win the ongoing war against Iran “very soon,” adding that gas prices will fall once it ends. The meeting between the two sides reportedly came after a Qatari delegation traveled to Washington last week and presented an Iranian proposal to American officials to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for economic aid.
Oil prices rise in second session on supply concerns
Oil prices rose for a second straight session on Tuesday as lingering concerns about supply disruptions in the Middle East caused by the US-Iran conflict outweighed signs of a recovery in oil exports from the region. Brent crude futures were up 63 cents, or 0.6 percent, at $105.91 a barrel by 00:00 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude was at $93.32, up 72 cents, or 0.8 percent. Crude exports from major Middle Eastern producers rose to 12.8 million barrels per day in September, the most since February, preliminary data from data provider Kpler showed on Monday.
Trump denies offering to ease sanctions on Iran
Trump on Monday denied a report by the news site Axios that he had offered Iran sanctions relief and the release of frozen funds as the war in the Middle East drags on. In a Truth Social post, the US president wrote: “Axios just published a report that ‘Trump’ offered Iran sanctions relief and a fund freeze. That’s not true. I offered them NOTHING.” This comes after Axios reported that Trump was “willing to provide Iran sanctions relief and release Iran’s frozen funds in exchange for specific Iranian actions on its nuclear program.”
