US, Iran hold indirect nuclear talks in New York: US media
US and Iran Hold Indirect Nuclear Contacts in New York
Bdbusinessdaily.com – The United States and Iran have held indirect discussions in New York this month focused on Tehran’s nuclear programme, signalling renewed contact between two governments whose relations remain deeply strained.
The exchanges involved intermediaries rather than direct face-to-face negotiations between American and Iranian representatives. Three officials familiar with the discussions indicated that the talks addressed Iran’s nuclear activities and the wider conditions Washington believes would need to be resolved in any future understanding with Tehran.
Washington Seeks Broader Framework
The Trump administration is seeking an arrangement that goes beyond immediate maritime security concerns. Its position is that any deal with Iran should confront what it regards as major unresolved issues, with the nuclear programme among the central subjects.
That approach places the United States at odds with an Iranian proposal centred first on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has suggested a seven-day arrangement in which Washington would start easing sanctions and release frozen Iranian funds. In return, the strait would be reopened, while nuclear negotiations would be postponed for separate talks at a later point.
President Donald Trump has rejected that proposal, leaving the two sides without agreement on how to sequence possible concessions. The disagreement is significant because it concerns the basic structure of diplomacy: whether maritime access and economic relief can be handled first, or whether they must be linked to broader nuclear commitments from the outset.
Why the Strait of Hormuz Matters
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategically important waterway connecting the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman. Any disruption there can quickly become an international concern because of its importance to regional shipping and energy routes.
Iran’s proposal appears designed to separate the immediate question of reopening the strait from the more difficult and politically sensitive nuclear file. Under Tehran’s suggested timetable, limited sanctions relief and access to frozen funds would come first, followed by nuclear discussions at a later stage.
Washington, however, is not pursuing another short-term memorandum limited to Hormuz before turning to the nuclear issue. The US position reflects concern that a narrow interim arrangement could leave the most consequential disputes unresolved while providing Iran with economic concessions.
Indirect Diplomacy Remains the Channel
Indirect engagement has often been used when direct US-Iran negotiations are politically difficult or impractical. Such talks can allow messages, conditions and draft proposals to move between the sides without requiring a formal public meeting.
Still, indirect contacts do not necessarily mean that a larger agreement is close. They can serve several purposes at once: testing each side’s demands, clarifying red lines, preventing misunderstandings and keeping communication open during periods of heightened tension.
In this case, the central divide remains clear. Iran has put forward a temporary arrangement focused on the Strait of Hormuz and financial relief. The United States wants nuclear concerns included in any meaningful agreement. Unless those positions move closer together, the New York contacts may remain exploratory rather than develop into formal negotiations.
Nuclear Issue at the Centre
Iran’s nuclear programme has long been one of the most difficult issues in relations between Tehran and Washington. Diplomatic efforts have repeatedly faced disputes over sanctions, verification, the scope of Iran’s nuclear activities and the timing of reciprocal steps.
The latest indirect discussions show that the issue remains central even when other urgent concerns, including maritime access, are raised. For the Trump administration, an agreement that addresses only one immediate problem would not meet its broader objective. For Iran, sanctions relief and the unfreezing of funds appear to be key elements of any near-term arrangement.
The competing proposals also illustrate how negotiations can become stalled over sequencing. One side may seek guarantees that sanctions relief will be delivered before making further commitments, while the other may insist on wider commitments before offering economic measures. Even where both parties see value in reducing tension, the order of actions can determine whether talks advance.
What Happens Next
There has been no indication that the parties have reached a deal. The New York discussions instead point to an attempt to maintain diplomatic contact while disagreements persist over the Strait of Hormuz, sanctions and the nuclear programme.
Any further progress would likely require agreement on whether maritime issues can be treated separately or must be incorporated into a broader nuclear understanding. It would also require both sides to bridge the gap between Iran’s call for immediate economic steps and Washington’s demand for a more comprehensive framework.
For now, the indirect talks underscore that diplomacy remains active despite the absence of direct negotiations. The outcome will depend not only on the substance of nuclear discussions, but also on whether the United States and Iran can agree on the first steps needed to begin a more durable process.
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