Trump says U.S., Iranian officials met, shortly after warning he may 'annihilate' Iran
President Trump confirmed a meeting between US and Iranian officials on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, despite his earlier threats of annihilation. The meeting involved lower-level envoys and was part of broader diplomatic efforts involving regional mediators.
Why it matters
The report underscores the high-stakes, contradictory nature of US foreign policy toward Iran during the current administration.
President Donald Trump said U.S. and Iranian officials met Tuesday (September 22, 2026), an unexpected engagement that came even as he threatened in his address to the UN General Assembly that he may “annihilate” the Islamic Republic if a deal isn't reached soon to end the nearly seven-month war.
Mr. Trump told reporters that his chief envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, met with the Iranian officials on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders, but he offered few details about how the discussions transpired or the substance of the exchange.
“It was a very good meeting,” Mr. Trump said. The President later added that the Iranian officials were “not at the highest level, but it's something.”
The engagement comes after months of U.S.-Iran communications languishing following the collapse of a short-lived ceasefire that was brokered in June.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in