Araghchi to meet mediators in New York

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi will meet mediators in New York today (Monday, 28 September), according to Iran’s ISNA news agency.

The report comes after Araghchi said Iran is open to “real diplomacy” but ready to confront any new US attacks even if it means an “apocalyptic war”.

Meanwhile, the country’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said Iran’s military has driven the “enemy” from waters off southern Iran to the Arabian Sea, adding it will soon be kicked out of there too.

Iran’s ISNA news agency reported Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, along with an Iranian delegation, will meet mediators involved in the negotiations with the US on Monday (28 September) morning.

A Qatari delegation has been in the United States and presented an Iranian proposal to American officials last week to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for economic relief.

The mediating team and Iranian delegation will “discuss the latest proposals and views on the current situation”, ISNA reported.

There are no plans for direct negotiations with the United States, Iran’s Tasnim news agency said.

Qatar mediators still working with Iran-US on possible deal

Qatari mediators continue efforts with Iran and the United States to secure a deal to end the fighting and reopen the Strait of Hormuz with the indirect talks expected later today, a news report says.

There was uncertainty over the weekend after President Trump rejected Tehran’s latest proposal to lift the US blockade of Iranian ports, release frozen Iranian assets, and waive sanctions on Iranian oil sales, among other conditions, in return for getting shipping moving through Hormuz again.

According to a draft text being discussed, the strait would reopen in accordance with a separate deal that Iran has been discussing with Oman, on the other side of the waterway, and it would include no tolls – something Tehran has pursued, unnamed officials told The Associated Press.

Despite Trump’s public comments, the United States has not officially rejected the current proposal, indicating his remarks may have been a negotiating tactic, two officials said on condition of anonymity.

The third official said the US is seeking Iranian concessions on its nuclear programme, including allowing inspectors to enter the country. Under the memorandum of understanding the two sides signed in June, Iran’s nuclear programme was meant to be discussed over a 60-day period.

Source: Al Jazeera