Iran, US hint at revival of talks

Iran and the US on Tuesday hinted at the prospect of reviving negotiations to end their conflict, with the presidents of both countries due at the UN General Assembly in New York. 
The event would be the first attended by Donald Trump and Masoud Pezeshkian since Trump launched "Operation Epic Fury" against Iran in February, alongside Israel. Trump had said on Sunday he would be open to a meeting with the Iranian president.
A senior Iranian official on Tuesday said there were no plans for the two leaders to meet directly, but that Iran's delegation had full authority to revive talks.
Iran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz to Gulf shipping within seven days if the US fulfilled Tehran's demands to ease military pressure and lift an American blockade on Iranian ports, the Iranian official said, adding that Iran had conveyed its latest proposal to Washington via mediators last week.
"The US needs to announce that it wants to resolve the issue diplomatically, make that official, and then agree on a timeline for how the process will move forward," the official said. "The UN General Assembly is a golden opportunity for the US to return to diplomacy."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC's "Today" show the US was open to speaking with the Iranians, "especially if it has the prospects of leading to something positive and ultimately achieving the goal of what this is all about".
"The US needs to announce that it wants to resolve the issue diplomatically, make that official, and then agree on a timeline for how the process will move forward", the senior Iranian official said, adding the Iranian delegation to the United Nations General Assembly is in New York and has full authority to revive diplomacy with the US.
Pezeshkian, who left Tehran for New York on Tuesday morning, will not meet Trump at the UN headquarters in New York, the official told Reuters.
The Iranian official said details on an agreement to end hostilities with Washington can be discussed in New York via mediators, explaining that Tehran's proposal was delivered to the US via mediators on 16 September.
"The UN General Assembly is a golden opportunity for the US to return to diplomacy", the official said, adding that Tehran would welcome a revival of diplomacy if 
Washington takes tangible steps.

Russian President Vladimir Putin held a phone call with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Tuesday in which they highlighted the need for safe passage via the Bab el-Mandeb and Hormuz straits, key global maritime trade routes, the Kremlin said.
It also said the two leaders held a detailed exchange of views on the situation in the Middle East and emphasised that a political and diplomatic settlement remains the only viable path forward.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump opened his UN General Assembly address on Tuesday by touting the strength of the US economy, kicking off a speech in which he was expected to argue that the war with Iran prevented Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and to promote what he sees as progress toward peace and a global order increasingly aligned with American interests.
"I can report to you with pride that America is back, and our country is stronger today than ever before," Trump said.
He said that he has a “big decision” to make on Iran — casting it as a choice between striking a deal after the midterm elections and annihilating Iran.
Trump used his UNGA speech to argue that the war with Iran prevented Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and warn that he could "annihilate the Islamic Republic" if no deal is reached to end the conflict.
Trump told reporters at the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday that his message to Vladimir Putin was to "settle the war."
After his speech, Trump is scheduled to meet with no fewer than 11 world leaders, bilaterally or in group settings.
Later on Tuesday, Trump will meet with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Venezuela's interim leader Delcy Rodriguez, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Greenland Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, and the representatives of the Gulf states of the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.
In the evening, he may meet dozens more leaders, albeit briefly, during a leaders' reception. Trump met with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday. Additions to his Tuesday schedule are possible.
The long list of foreign leader meetings reflects the US president's focus on foreign affairs during his second term, during which he has started multiple wars, questioned longstanding alliances, threatened allies with invasion and sought to broker well over a dozen conflicts, with mixed success.
The US-Israeli war against Iran has been particularly consequential, driving up fuel prices globally, dragging down Trump's approval ratings and presenting a challenge for Republicans running in the November 3 congressional midterm election. On Monday, a Reuters/Ipsos poll showed Trump's approval rating falling to an all-time low of 32%, as his fellow Republicans soured on his handling of the cost of living.