• Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) says the US and Israel must eventually accept withdrawing from the region.
• US envoy to the United Nations Mike Waltz says President Donald Trump is determined to ensure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon and that the door is still open for Iran to return to the “negotiating table if they do so in good faith”.
• The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency says a second vessel has been hit by “debris from an unknown projectile” in the Strait of Hormuz.

On the sidelines at the UNGA

France’s Macron stresses energy stability after meeting Trump in New York

French President Emmanuel Macron has addressed global energy markets following talks with US President Donald Trump in New York, highlighting joint efforts to stabilise supplies and push for diplomatic resolutions.

In a post on X, Macron wrote that upon his arrival in New York, he met Trump to coordinate responses to regional and international challenges.

“We decided to act together to ease tensions in the energy markets, by protecting critical infrastructure in the Middle East and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz,” Macron said.

He added that both leaders would pool their efforts to secure a moratorium on strikes against energy infrastructure and Ukrainian civilian infrastructure.

“Civilian populations must be protected, and we must initiate as soon as possible a serious negotiation on the conditions for peace between Russia and Ukraine,” Macron said.

Iran’s FM discusses UN agenda items with Secretary-General Guterres

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has discussed UN General Assembly agenda items and exchanged views with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency.

The two sides also discussed efforts to advance international peace and security.

The phone call with the UN secretary-general took place immediately upon Araghchi’s arrival in New York, Tasnim said.

Iranian FM Araghchi says trust in UN has been lost

The top diplomat has made the remarks upon his arrival in New York ahead of the UN General Assembly, according to his Telegram channel.

“This visit takes place following the cowardly war waged against us by the US and the Zionist regime, the subsequent developments, and in reality, amidst a situation that effectively remains a state of war,” he said.

“Naturally, our primary objective is to utilize a major international platform to defend the legitimacy, rights, and interests of the Iranian people,” the minister added.

Araghchi stated that the international organization had lost credibility and trust due to its failure to uphold world peace and security. He pointed out that the UN General Assembly is set to open on Tuesday under the theme “restoring trust”.

“This reflects a universal acknowledgement that trust in the organization has eroded, or vanished entirely, due to its failure to effectively maintain international peace and security,” Araghchi said.

“Certain nations arrogate to themselves the right to act with impunity, disregarding international institutions, international law, and even the collective conscience of humanity; they claim immunity for themselves and their allies,” he also said.

The Iranian minister concluded: “Consequently, we see a criminal entity like the Zionist regime given free rein to commit whatever acts it chooses, while Western and European nations, which style themselves as champions of human rights and humanitarian law, remain silent.”

Oil prices climb as traders monitor potential US-Iran talks at UN General Assembly

Oil prices have ticked upward as the market stabilised following several sessions of declines, while investors monitored potential diplomatic developments between the US and Iran during the United Nations General Assembly.

Brent crude futures for November gained 22 cents, or 0.22 percent, reaching $100.57 a barrel as of 00:21 GMT on Tuesday, according to the Reuters news agency.

Meanwhile, US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude contracts for October, which expire on Tuesday, crept up 2 cents, or 0.02 percent, to trade at $95.80 a barrel.

The more actively traded November WTI contract rose 13 cents, or 0.14 percent, to $92.49 a barrel.

Oil prices rebound after five-session slide amid US-Iran talks outlook

Oil prices have risen for the first time in six sessions, as traders monitored potential discussions between the US and Iran at the United Nations General Assembly following a recent increase in shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

Brent crude futures for November delivery were up $1.14, or 1.1 percent, at $101.48 a barrel in early trading on Tuesday, according to the Reuters news agency.

The October contract for US West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude, which expires later on Tuesday, was up 87 cents, or 0.9 percent, at $96.65 a barrel.

Iran Foreign Ministry spokesman blames US for fuel crisis

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has criticised American officials who blamed Tehran for rising fuel prices, saying the public memory is not short enough to forget “who actually initiated the war of aggression”.

In a post on X, Baghaei said Washington created the crisis, which led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the disruption of commercial shipping.

Baghaei also questioned whether blaming the victim of an unlawful “war of choice” should be viewed as strategic brilliance or a textbook symptom of “The March of Folly”.

Iran's accusation towards the United States is correct. Because, if there wasn't a Netanyahu, who has been obsessed with Iran for more than 30 years, didn't resumed his war from June 2025, and didn't lured Trump into the resumption, there wouldn't be a war on Iran at all.

Saudi foreign minister, French counterpart address regional challenges at GCC meeting

Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud has attended a ministerial meeting between Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states and France in New York.

In a statement posted on X, the Saudi Foreign Ministry said the meeting focused on regional developments and their repercussions for security and stability.

Discussions also covered areas of cooperation and joint coordination between GCC member states and France in addressing current challenges, alongside a review of key topics slated for discussion during the United Nations General Assembly.

Qatar PM attends Arab-Islamic foreign ministers’ meeting on Gaza at UNGA

Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani has taken part in a coordination meeting of the foreign ministers of the eight Arab and Islamic countries concerned with Gaza, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York on Monday.

In a statement, Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said the meeting reviewed the latest developments in the Gaza Strip, particularly updates on the roadmap for completing the implementation of US President Donald Trump’s comprehensive plan to end the conflict in the Strip.

France seeks India’s partnership in Strait of Hormuz

France is seeking to work with India to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a statement by the French Foreign Ministry.

It said Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot held a meeting with his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York. During the meeting, they “underscored the imperative of ensuring freedom of navigation” in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al-Mandeb, the ministry said.

Barrot proposed that India work jointly with France as the straits are “crucial to the stability and prosperity of Europe and Asia”. He also pointed out the Franco-British initiative launched to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

Barrot and Jaishankar reiterated France and India’s commitment to international law and their joint support for “effective and reformed multilateralism”, according to the statement.

France welcomes Pakistan’s mediation efforts between Iran and US

Pakistan’s ongoing exchange of messages between Iran and the United States has been applauded by the French Foreign Ministry.

Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot held a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Ishaq Dar on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York City on Monday.

Barrot stressed the need for “the most inclusive negotiations possible” to help secure energy supplies and “sustainably address the threats posed by Iran in the nuclear, ballistic and regional spheres”, a ministry statement said.

Trump meetings with Gulf leaders important to watch at UNGA

Luciano Zaccara, a research associate professor in Gulf politics at Qatar University, says rumors of a meeting between Presidents Trump and Pezeshkian at the UNGA are unlikely to come to fruition.

However, Zaccara said Trump will meet Gulf leaders in New York, and the results of those conversations could influence the nearly seven-month-long war in the Middle East.

“This is a good venue to express what are the next steps and how the next steps can be taken. We will need to pay attention more to the sideline meetings that Trump will have with the GCC,” he said.

“The United States keeps pushing the same strategy – mixing military engagement with economic pressure – but it’s not something that’s going to work.”

Zaccara noted Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani stated clearly that diplomacy to end the conflict is the only way forward.

At these meetings with Trump, Gulf leaders will “express what they need to happen in the region to reach a final peace”, he added.

Iranian official says Tehran ready to reopen Hormuz within 7 days if US eases military pressure, lifts blockade: Reports

Iran will reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States eases military pressure and lifts its blockade on Iranian ports, the Reuters news agency and Japan’s Kyodo News agency have separately quoted a senior Iranian official as saying.

The Japanese agency reported the development first, calling it “Tehran’s ramped-up efforts to revive negotiations with Washington”.

The proposal, which has already been conveyed to the US through mediators, the official told Kyodo, calls for renewed talks aimed at reaching a permanent end to hostilities between the two countries.

Reuters cited its source as saying the Iranian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly in New York has full authority to revive diplomacy with the US.

“The UN General ‌Assembly is a golden opportunity for the US to return to diplomacy”, the official told Reuters, adding that Tehran would welcome ‌a ‌revival of diplomacy if Washington takes tangible steps.

It was unclear if it was the same senior Iranian official who spoke to both news agencies.

Iranian sources reject reports Tehran will reopen Hormuz if US reduces military pressure, lifts blockade

Iran’s semi-official news agency Fars says Iranian sources have rejected news reports that Tehran was ready to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if Washington reduces military pressure and lifts its blockade of Iranian ports.

Earlier, Reuters and Japan’s Kyodo news agency separately quoted a senior Iranian official as saying Iran would open the strait if the US undertook the measures above.

Highlighting that the reports had been accompanied by a drop in oil prices, Fars said the sources warned, “In such circumstances, Iranian officials must be vigilant and careful about the consequences of publishing these narratives and their impact on the oil market.”

Nothing in Iran war has been ‘solved through diplomatic means so far apart from very short truces’

Luciano Zaccara, an analyst and adjunct professor at Georgetown University in Qatar.

“There is a lot of debate on whether the UN has any utility or not,” Zaccara said, adding, “the situation is much more complicated than one year ago; we have a war that has been lasting more than six months, nothing was solved through diplomatic means so far, apart from very short truces.”

Zaccara said he is “not optimistic” about bilateral conversations potentially leading to “peace in one of the conflicts” in the Middle East, because he anticipates that participants will only be “reaffirming the positions that they already have”.

“Of course, Pezeshkian will go there reaffirming Iran’s willingness to resist and not to surrender to US impositions, and I don’t expect Trump will provide any speech that is going to change anything that he is already doing,” said Zaccara.

US open to meeting Iran at United Nations, Rubio says

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has told NBC News the US is open to a meeting with Iran at the United Nations.

Oil falls to 2-week low as Gulf supply outlook reportedly improves

Oil prices have fallen to a two-week low as prospects for increased oil supplies from the Gulf have eased market concerns with Iran signalling ⁠it could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days and Saudi Arabia set to resume exports from its Red Sea port of Yanbu.

The Brent crude futures November contract fell $2.01, or 2 percent, to $98.33 a barrel at 10:27 GMT. The West Texas intermediate October ⁠contract lost $2.50, or 2.61 percent, to $93.28 a barrel.

Oil prices appear to be falling on the back of media reports that Iran may be willing to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days. This could be a positive sign that diplomacy may be working, said Hamad Hussain, senior climate and commodities economist at Capital Economics.

However, “there may ⁠also be other obstacles, such as the issue of tolls and fees, to overcome before ⁠a lasting solution can be achieved,” Hussain added.

A further impact on prices is Saudi Arabia restarting the operations at its East-West Pipeline. It could resume exports from Yanbu later on Tuesday, Reuters reported.

Trump reportedly interested in meeting senior Iranian officials at UNGA: US media outlet

President Trump has reportedly expressed an interest in meeting senior Iranian officials who are currently in New York for the UN General Assembly.

An unnamed US official told CNN that Trump has informed his advisers that he would like to arrange a meeting to discuss the ongoing war if the “conditions are right”.

If such a meeting is held, it could include Trump’s senior advisers, according to the US media outlet.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has already arrived in New York, while President Masoud Pezeshkian is due to arrive in the coming hours.

Iran ‘allowed to gather strength at world’s peril’: Trump

At the UN General Assembly, Trump says that while Iran was “allowed to gather strength at the world’s peril”, Washington has taken action to stop Tehran from “spreading terror”.

He claimed in his address that the US halted Iran’s “mad dash to a nuclear bomb from behind this ballistic missile shield”.

“If they had succeeded, that wicked regime would have been free to spread terror and death forever,” Trump added.

Trump says Iran offered ‘full economic cooperation in exchange for ending nuclear program’

The US president says that “for 51 years, the fanatical Iranian regime has ruled by bloodshed and mass murder, spreading death and carnage and chaos across the entire Middle East and beyond”.

“Upon taking office last year, I immediately opened negotiations with Iran and offered them full economic cooperation in exchange for ending their nuclear program and support for terror, but they refused. They absolutely refused. That was a big mistake.”

Trump tells the world to isolate Iran economically

The US president has told all nations to join the US in “enforcing the complete economic isolation of Iran”.

He said Iran should be isolated until they cease attacks commercial shipping, relinquish nuclear ambitions and “cease their support of terror”.

Trump’s threat at UNGA to wipe out Iran may concern some

The thing that stuck out most for me was his [Trump’s] words on Iran: that he could send them to hell, that he could wipe out Iran, that he is threatening to wipe out an entire country from a UN podium.

Trump tends to talk in maximalist terms. It was a threat, but it’s also a threat that was made from the podium of the UN, and that may concern some people.

However, there are a couple of really interesting things that you can look at as signals.

First of all, the Iranians were given visas. Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority was not.

Also, Iran’s foreign minister approached the State Department and said he’s worried about threats and asked for US protection while in New York, which he’s been given. That’s important, too.

And then there’s Trump saying over the weekend that he’s open to a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Iran will only engage in talks with US if it fulfils clearly communicated conditions: Iranian security source

An Iranian security source has said that Iran will only consider engaging in talks with the United States if Washington fulfills commitments pertaining to Iranian conditions and provides practical guarantees.

“The claim that the Strait of Hormuz would be reopened in return for a reduction in tensions is incorrect, and the strait will not be reopened until the stated conditions are met,” the unnamed source said.

The statement follows media reports citing a senior Iranian official saying that Iran would open the strait if the US reduces military pressure and lifts its blockade of Iranian ports.

The source said that Tehran had previously taken positive steps that were not met by a similarly positive US response.

Iran’s conditions for reviving diplomacy have been clearly communicated to the US by Iranian officials, the source added.

Iran’s conditions to resume talks with the US are “an end to the war on all fronts, the start of negotiations on a timeline for Israeli full withdrawal from southern Lebanon, the release of frozen funds, the lifting of the naval blockade, the lifting of newly imposed sanctions, an end to military threats, and an oil waiver,” the source said.

Rubio says talks with Iran may happen but are not currently scheduled

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says no meetings with Iranian officials at the UN General Assembly are currently scheduled, but that talks could still happen.

Speaking to 77 WABC Radio, Rubio accused Tehran of targeting civilians during the war and insisted that the US never targets civilians. However, he added that civilians are sometimes tragically caught in the crossfire.

Independent UN human rights experts concluded last week that there are reasonable grounds to believe the US committed war crimes on the opening day of the war by striking a primary school and a sports complex, killing more than 175 civilians. Washington has not acknowledged responsibility for the attacks.

Commenting on the Strait of Hormuz, Rubio said more oil was passing through the strategic waterway than two or three months ago and claimed that the volume was increasing daily. He maintained that Iran has not been able to export any oil due to the US naval blockade of the country.

Trump says US officials met with Iranian delegation for three hours

President Trump has told reporters ⁠at the UN that US officials ‌had had a “very good” three-hour meeting on ⁠Tuesday with the ⁠Iranian delegation.

Trump says another US-Iran set of talks scheduled in ‘near future’

In addition to saying US and Iranian officials had “productive” talks at the UN that we just reported, Trump added that there is “another one scheduled in the very near future”.

US-Iran meeting is potentially ‘a significant development’

From Rosiland Jordan

There isn’t much more US officials are saying about this meeting. They had been rather coy about whether any such meeting was even going to happen.

There is this suggestion that perhaps once again there are discussions under way. That is something we heard Trump allude to during his address to the UN General Assembly.

This is perhaps a significant development because in recent weeks Trump has indicated that the Iranians have made overtures to try to negotiate. However, Trump repeatedly said he could not trust the Iranians to keep their word and that it wasn’t worth the US’s time to engage in any sort of negotiations.

The fact that there apparently is this ongoing discussion might indicate that there could be, and I underscore the phrase could be, an end to the war sometime in the next several weeks.

No confirmation from Iran on meeting with US officials

President Trump says US officials met an Iranian delegation at the UN General Assembly.

However, there has been no official confirmation from the Iranians yet following Trump’s comments.

‘Air of optimism’ on US-Iran officials meeting at UN

US negotiator Steve Witkoff was asked whether US officials had a good meeting with Iran, and he said yes. He was asked if he will still feel that way tomorrow, and he said yes.

There seems to be an air of optimism that perhaps they can move towards some sort of peace deal.

Trump said he might meet with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on the sidelines of UN General Assembly. It appears that the first step has been taken between the US and Iran.

Kushner, Witkoff part of US team that met Iranian delegation, says Trump

Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff were part of the US team that met the Iranian delegation at the UN General Assembly, Trump has confirmed.

No change in Iran position regarding talks, say Iranian sources

Officially speaking, there is no confirmation from the Iranian side regarding a meeting with US officials.

Iranian sources regarding the potential for further diplomatic engagement between Washington and Tehran after Trump reported they met for three hours.

Unnamed sources are saying that Iran has not changed its positions.

A security source said that if the US fulfills its commitments based on Iranian demands – and if there are sufficient practical assurances – there would be an opportunity for engagement.

Trump addressing meeting with the GCC, Arab leaders

President Trump is now addressing a meeting with the GCC and Arab leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Trump reiterates claims US ‘destroyed’ Iran’s military assets

The US president has once again claimed that Iran’s navy has been “eliminated”, saying that all 159 ships were destroyed by the US military.

He also said more than 90 percent of Iran’s planes had been hit, as well as 430 weapon storage facilities and 800 drone storage facilities.

“We annihilated its air defence systems, completely decimated its terrorist leadership and destroyed its economy,” Trump said ahead of his meeting with the GCC and Arab leaders.

Trump says Iran must act ‘fast’ to ‘survive as a nation’

Similar to his earlier remarks at UNGA, the US president once again threatened Iran of annihilation.

“We’ve isolated Iran financially and hopefully they’ll do the right thing fast,” he said. “There will be a time when it’s too late and we won’t have the chance of letting them survive as a nation.

“I would like to see that and I can tell you that people around this table would like to see it,” he added in a meeting with GCC and Arab leaders on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

Iran confirms US talks on sidelines of UNGA, says Witkoff requested meeting

Iranian state media has confirmed that FM Araghchi met US special envoy Steve Witkoff who was part of the US team on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly earlier on Tuesday.

Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) reported that the meeting was held at Witkoff’s request.

Araghchi reportedly accepted Witkoff’s request to reiterate Iran’s conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, which include the immediate lifting of the naval blockade, the immediate release of all frozen Iranian assets and an end to the war across all fronts, including Lebanon, the report added.

Araghchi says European countries hosting US bases could be ‘complicit in aggression’

Iran’s Foreign Minister Araghchi says European countries hosting US military bases or helping prepare or execute US attacks could be “complicit in aggression”.

Araghchi told his Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani during a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly that the rising fuel and commodity prices in global markets are a direct result of the US-Israel war on Iran, according to Iran’s Foreign Ministry statement.

“The Iranian foreign minister warned of the dangerous consequences that the normalization of law-breaking and aggressive US unilateralism poses to the rule of law,” said the statement.

Iran’s military says Trump threats in UN address ‘domestic propaganda’

Iran’s army and the IRGC have called Trump’s threats to Iran “domestic propaganda” after the US president told the UN General Assembly that he was considering whether to “annihilate the Islamic Republic”.

Trump’s comments reflect “the strategic impasse the US faces in its aggression against the Iranian nation”, according to a joint statement by the Iranian army’s general staff and the IRGC’s Khatam Al Anbiya central headquarters, published by state broadcaster IRIB.

Iranian president to arrive in New York for UN General Assembly shortly

Iran’s Fars news agency is reporting that the plane carrying President Masoud Pezeshkian is scheduled to arrive at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York around 6pm (22:00 GMT).

Pezeshkian has traveled to the US to attend the UN General Assembly and will be accompanied by a six-member political and protocol team.

Iran’s FM Abbas Araghchi, his deputy Kazem Gharibabadi, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, and the Foreign Ministry’s Director of Foreign Media Alireza Miryousefi are already in the US.

Trump balances diplomacy and threats in UN General Assembly address on Iran

No real breakthrough from President Trump on the main issue, which is the war on Iran.

Separately, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi has had a very busy day of diplomacy, meeting numerous delegations – mainly from Europe – after Trump’s big speech at the General Assembly.

Trump did engage in some diplomacy, but he was also threatening war. He was saying that he needed to make a big decision: that Iran could have a bright new future and could be one of the greatest countries in the world.

And then he said something really notable: He said the alternative was that he could annihilate Iran and send the country to hell, something that you don’t normally hear in the General Assembly.

In fact, in history this has only been heard it once before – and that was from President Trump in 2017. At the time, he was talking about North Korea.

US tensions with Gulf allies rise as Iran threatens critical energy routes

There has been no readout from the White House on President Trump’s meetings.

Instead, the media was referred back to his public statement, which frames the choice facing Iran in stark terms: potential “greatness” through a deal with the US or “obliteration”.

What’s notable about the meetings between the US and GCC leaders is that Iran and its allies have the ability to target Gulf cities, oil facilities and shipping routes, all of which have been left vulnerable by the US military position in the region.

As a result, there is real tension between the US and its Gulf partners, who want greater control over the security of critical energy routes. These Arab nations are seeking US guarantees, particularly given that they host US forces.

The argument has always been that the presence of those bases would ensure the safety of US allies, but that has not held true since the conflict with Iran began.

Qatari PM, Iran’s FM discuss creating ‘conditions for dialogue’

Qatar’s PM has discussed with Iran’s foreign minister “ways to create appropriate conditions for dialogue to help strengthen regional security and stability”.

Sheikh Mohammed – who is also Qatar’s foreign minister – discussed with Abbas Araghchi the latest developments in the region and ongoing de-escalation efforts, according to a statement from the Qatari Foreign Ministry.

Spain’s foreign minister calls for united, single authority for occupied West Bank and Gaza

Spanish Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said that the occupied West Bank and Gaza should be under a single authority, adding that all crossings to the enclave must be opened and aid must enter in large quantities.

Albares made the remarks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

The minister said that Spain supports full membership for Palestine in the United Nations and that the time has come to establish a Palestinian state that lives in safety alongside Israel.

Albares also called the wars in the Middle East and Ukraine “unacceptable” and stressed that unilateral solutions are not viable.

Regarding the US war on Iran, he said: “Freedom of navigation, especially in the Strait of Hormuz, is a fundamental principle in international law.”

Qatar’s emir says Gulf going through ‘one of its most dangerous phases’

Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has begun his remarks at the UN General Assembly, addressing the ongoing conflict in the Gulf, which he says is “one of the most dangerous phases” the region has ever experienced.

Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkiye and Egypt hold meeting at UNGA

Foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Turkiye and Egypt have held a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

All four officials discussed regional and international developments, as well as their shared efforts to “support peace, security, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East and the wider region”, according to a joint statement posted on X by the Saudi Foreign Ministry.

They also condemned “all attacks” targeting Saudi Arabia, including recent Houthi attacks.

The ministers reiterated their firm support for the legitimate Yemeni government, the statement added.

Palestine was also discussed, with all four countries expressing their support for an independent Palestinian state based on the June 4, 1967 borders.

Erdogan slams ‘genocidal mindset that can never get enough of killing’

At his UN General Assembly address, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has addressed the situation for Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, as well as conflicts in the wider Middle East. He maintained:

• The occupied West Bank is experiencing its worst-ever period of violence and terror carried out by Israeli settlers.
• We are faced with a genocidal mindset that can never get enough of killing.
• We remain committed to following through on the agreement signed in Sharm el-Sheikh. Now we must begin the reconstruction of Gaza as soon as possible.
• Through the defence alliance we established recently with Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, we are strengthening solidarity and aiming to generate solutions to the problems in our region.
• We are maintaining our efforts with the relevant actors to bring an end to the climate of war that has been ignited in the Gulf.

Senior Iranian official says some colleagues did not want president to attend UNGA

Iranian Vice President for Executive Affairs Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah says he told President Masoud Pezeshkian on behalf of colleagues that he should not attend the UN General Assembly.

“Considering the current circumstances, I conveyed the suggestion from some friends that President Pezeshkian should forgo the trip to New York,” Ghaempanah said.

“However, he emphasized that, based on the consensus of experts and the pillars of governance, he will undertake this trip to articulate Iran’s authority and grievances to the world. Under the name of Iran, fear and danger hold no meaning.”

Pezeshkian has vowed to use his trip to “restore the trust in the world” and highlight US “oppression”.

Pezeshkian arrives in New York for UN General Assembly

Iran’s President Pezeshkian has arrived in New York to attend and speak at the UN General Assembly.

US senator criticizes Trump over rising costs from Iran war

US Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia, has strongly criticised the Trump administration over the ongoing conflict with Iran, pointing to the heavy financial burden placed on American families.

In a post on X, Warner wrote that “Trump said his war with Iran would last 6 weeks”.

“More than 6 months later, the war is still waging, and Americans have paid an extra $100 billion for gas and diesel and at least another $60 billion for essentials like groceries and mortgages,” Warner added.

Iran’s president says ‘people cannot be forced into submission through force’

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian departed early Tuesday to attend the UN General Assembly and “present the positions of the Islamic Republic of Iran”, state media report.

Speaking before his flight, Pezeshkian said he will raise “the grievances of the Iranian people, the crimes that have taken place, and the mistrust that has been created”.

“We have gone to the negotiating table several times and signed agreements, but unfortunately the whole world saw how commitments were not honored and written agreements were violated,” he was quoted as saying.

“People cannot be forced into submission through force. What is happening in Gaza, Palestine, Syria, Yemen, Iran and elsewhere shows realities that people around the world are witnessing,” Pezeshkian added.

“Enemies block the routes as much as they can in an attempt to force the Iranian people into submission. They failed to achieve their objectives through military means and are trying to act through other channels.

“They close land and air routes, seek to fuel internal divisions, use the media and ethnic groups, and try to exploit our weaknesses to the greatest possible extent in order to weaken us from within and force us into submission,” said Iran’s president.

Ghalibaf says Iran can strike with missiles anywhere it decides without limitations

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says Iran’s missiles can target anywhere the country decides, without any restrictions, according to remarks quoted by state media.

“In the current hybrid conflict – economic, military, diplomatic and otherwise – Iran will never yield or bring the country to a halt,” Ghalibaf, who is also Iran’s chief negotiator in talks with the US, said.

Ghalibaf added that Iran will “respond with strength, as it has done until now, and has rendered the enemy powerless in every area”.

Qatar’s former PM warns current diplomatic efforts likely to achieve temporary solutions

Qatar’s former PM says diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the war are likely to achieve only “temporary solutions”, adding that Tehran may believe it will benefit from dragging out the process.

“I believe that these temporary solutions will end up like the temporary truces did, which is extending them for specific periods without reaching permanent solutions,” Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani said.

“The reason for this is that Iran sees waiting and patience – despite the distress it is suffering – as providing it with space and an opportunity to achieve gains, whether in the matter of opening the Strait of Hormuz or in the nuclear issue.

“In my opinion, given this situation, the GCC countries must bear some of the pain too and insist on reaching a legal, permanent and clear solution for the issue of the Strait of Hormuz and safe passage through it.”

Iran faces more isolation amid US threats to sanction aviation

The sanctions threatened by the US against Iran can be called isolation, because Iranians can only travel to neighboring countries.

Iraq and Turkey are among the main destinations for Iranian people as they are close by, and their trade relations and cultural ties with Iran make it easier for Iranians to get out of the country and entertain themselves in a way.

For instance, Turkey suspended Mahan Air’s flights a couple of days ago, as Mahan Air is on the flagship sanctions list, and three Turkish firms that were serving Mahan Air for logistics were sanctioned as well.

Currently, other airlines’ flights are continuing, but no one has any idea how long these civil aviation restrictions are going to continue or how far they will reach. Iranian authorities see this as an attempt to shut down the whole civil aviation industry of Iran, which makes civilians a direct target.

China opposes ‘illegal’ US sanctions on Iran airlines

China says it opposes “illegal” US sanctions on Iranian airlines a day after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent threatened potential measures.

Bessent told CNBC on Monday “all the Iranian airlines will be shut down around the world” in a matter of days under the weight of US sanctions, as the Trump administration seeks to ramp up economic pressure on Tehran.

“China consistently opposes illegal unilateral sanctions that lack a basis in international law or authorization from the UN Security Council,” Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun told a news conference.

The criticism comes just before Trump’s meeting on Thursday with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the US.

A physical or military enforcement of a "global airline ban" targeting another nation's sovereign airspace or territory constitutes an aerial blockade. Under customary international law and the UN General Assembly Resolution 3314, a blockade enforced by the armed forces of one state against the ports or coasts of another is explicitly defined as an act of aggression.

The bold marked text should be read as when Trump threatens countries with sanctions if they allow Iranian airliners to use their airspace. It is then targeting the airspace of the country that allows. A country that does not allow Iran to use its airspace could be hold responsible:

Article 2(5) of the UN Charter: ".. and shall refrain from giving assistance to any state against which the United Nations is taking preventive or enforcement action."

The latter is not happening because the UN is too weak to take action against the United States.

Iran says foreign flights by the country’s airlines will continue from October despite US threats

Foreign flights operated by Iranian airlines will continue as scheduled from the beginning of October, according to the country’s Civil Aviation Organization, the ISNA news agency reports.

On Monday, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Iranian airlines could be shut out of international travel from Wednesday, as Washington threatens foreign companies with secondary sanctions if they continue servicing the country’s carriers.

A spokesperson for the Civil Aviation Organization said, so far, none of the Iranian airlines’ foreign flights has been cancelled and all are operating as scheduled, ISNA reported.

They added that any changes to flight schedules will be notified to passengers in advance, and stressed that no instructions have been issued to stop foreign flights.

IRGC says Iran will reverse-engineer seized US underwater drone

Brigadier-General Hossein Mohebbi, a spokesman for the IRGC, says Iran will begin reverse-engineering a US submarine drone recently captured by naval forces.

Quoted by state media, Mohebbi said the unmanned sea vehicle is among other military hardware seized during the nearly seven-month war launched by the United States and Israel.

“This advanced technology exists in the underwater vessel that fell into the hands of the IRGC Navy forces, and its reverse-engineering will begin,” he said.

“The war demonstrated that the most advanced US technologies used in the military and defence industries have come under Iran’s control.”

The vessel – a Dive-LD autonomous underwater vehicle designed for long-range surveillance and other undersea missions – is among a new generation of military drones intended to operate for days with little human intervention.

Trump blasts ‘traitors’ who said US extremely short on munitions after Iran attack

President Trump has denounced media reports suggesting the US military is extremely short on weapons stocks after nearly seven months of the war on Iran.

“The cowards and traitors would love to say the United States is low on munitions. It’s not true,” the US president wrote on his social media platform.

“We have more munitions than we could ever possibly think of using and are building them up now at levels we have never seen before.”

‘Cost of Trump’s folly’ spilling over into European passengers’ pockets: Ex-Iranian minister

Mehrdad Bazrpash, a former Iranian minister, says Europe’s daily jet fuel shortage has reached 510,000 barrels, adding that its reserves have plummeted to a seven-year low despite a surge in imports from South Korea.

“The cost of Trump’s folly is now spilling over from aircraft fuel tanks into the pockets of European passengers. The Hormuz vortex has dragged Europe’s energy security all the way to East Asia,” the former minister of roads and urban development said on X.

Iran will fine, temporarily seize ‘violating’ vessels, says parliament spokesperson

The Iranian Parliament’s national security committee spokesperson says new legislation will fine vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz that are deemed in violation of Iran’s blockade.

“Violating” vessels transiting the strait will be fined the equivalent of 20 percent of their cargo’s value and will be temporarily seized until the fine is paid, the spokesperson told Iran’s Fars news agency.

The official added that Iran’s army will be required to submit quarterly reports to Parliament’s national security and foreign policy committees on the implementation of the new legislation.

Explosion heard near Iran’s Qeshm Island: State media

Iranian media is reporting sound of an explosion near Iran’s Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.

State news agency IRNA reported that the cause and impact of the explosion were not immediately clear.

Qeshm Island has been the site of several reported explosions since the US-Israeli war on Iran started in February.

IMO chief calls for renewed diplomacy as shipping faces growing threats

Arsenio Dominguez, secretary-general of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), has told Al Jazeera that conversations related to shipping are taking place at the UN General Assembly and that these talks are “the beginning of diplomacy once again”.

“We are ready to put into practice any necessary action – operational action – in order to resume transit through the Strait of Hormuz. But for that we need the strait to be safe,” Dominguez said.

“The more that shipping is targeted across the globe, the more there will be more hardship for everyone around the world.”

‘Time is on Trump’s side’ ahead of the midterm elections

Sigurd Neubauer, a Middle East and Gulf analyst, says “time is on Trump’s side” ahead of the November 3 congressional elections, adding that the US president is waiting for the midterms because he believes “the Iranians cannot wait for much longer because their economy is really in dire straits”.

Neubauer said that the main change after the midterms will be the state of the Iranian economy, but he argues not much is likely change for Trump politically.

“If Trump continues to hold the US Senate he will be in the same political situation that he is now, with full command over the Republican Party.”

At the same time, losing the midterms will “not necessarily impact his ability as commander-in-chief to prosecute this war”.

“I don’t think that much really changes from Trump’s perspective, other than the fact that it will be much more difficult for him to launch a full-scale military operation against Iran which he has held back from – at least until now.”