Steve Witkoff, the US president’s special envoy, announced that the talks between Washington and Tehran on 31 Shahrivar at the sidelines of the UN General Assembly were carried out through mediators and that the two delegations did not negotiate directly.

Witkoff said that during the day, the mediators went back and forth between the two sides and concluded a round of talks. He expressed hope that the talks would be constructive and added that the mediators’ efforts would continue.

Earlier, Donald Trump, the US president, had announced the three-hour conversation between Witkoff and Jared Kushner and an Islamic Republic delegation. Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting had also reported that Tehran’s conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including lifting the maritime blockade and releasing Iranian assets, had been conveyed to the American side.

Citing an American official, Al Arabiya reported that Washington rejected Tehran’s request to lift the maritime blockade. Al-Hadath also wrote that major differences remain and that the chances of an agreement are limited.

At the same time, a senior official of the Islamic Republic told Reuters that Tehran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the pressure from the US military were reduced and the blockade of the southern ports were lifted.