Arab mediators push for U.S.-Iran meeting at U.N. to de-escalate crisis
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Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrives for the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP via Getty Images)
Several Arab countries mediating between the U.S. and Iran are in contact with both sides about arranging a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, according to a regional source involved in the talks.
Why it matters: The gathering in New York offers Gulf countries a rare opportunity to try to break the stalemate in the war, which is approaching the seven-month mark with no signs of a breakthrough.
State of play: Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC Tuesday that President Trump is open to meeting with the Iranians in New York "because he believes that engaging with people is important if you're going to solve problems." He added, however, that no meeting has been scheduled yet.
- Trump is expected to meet with representatives of nine Arab countries on Tuesday to discuss the war. Many of the countries are expected to urge Trump to de-escalate with Iran and work to reach a deal, regional sources said.
- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Tuesday morning in New York with Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, who is a key mediator between Iran and the U.S.
What he said: In his speech before the UN General Assembly, Trump reiterated what he told Axios last week: that he has "a big decision to make" whether to make a deal with Iran or "annihilating the Islamic Republic."
- Trump said he thinks the U.S. will reach a deal with Iran after the midterms
- "We will get it done one way or another. We will get it done and get it done fast," Trump said.
- "It doesn't make sense for Iran not to (make a deal)," he added. "They are waiting to see how I do in the midterm elections. What they don't realize is that I am not running … I will be here for two-and-a-half years. I gave no credence and will not give credence to the election when it comes to Iran. It doesn't even enter my mind. The only thing that does is that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon."
Zoom out: Trump also made a broader case for the war, saying many presidents before him ignored the Iran threat for many years.
- "After giving Iran every chance for a deal I took action to ensure that neither the U.S. nor any other nation will have to face such a catastrophic problem," Trump said.
Zoom in: Trump said Iran violated the ceasefire by attacking commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz. Still, he added, the U.S. manages to get dozens of oil tankers out of the strait every night.
- "We must be united in putting pressure on Iran. I call on all countries to join us in our pressure campaign against Iran," he said.
