[Anchor]

The United States and Iran have held impromptu talks in New York, where the UN General Assembly is underway. This marks their first meeting in three months, following the end-of-war talks held in Switzerland last June. We connect to New York to find out whether we are getting any closer to an end to the conflict.

Correspondent Kim Hyunwoo, first, what kind of discussions took place between the US and Iran?

[Reporter]

Because the meeting was held behind closed doors and President Trump made a surprise announcement afterward, specific details of the conversation have not been disclosed.

[Donald Trump / US President : The meeting lasted for three hours. It was a very good and highly productive meeting. Another meeting is scheduled for the near future.]

Steve Witkoff, the US Special Envoy to the Middle East, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi participated. The two delegations did not hold direct face-to-face talks, but instead exchanged views through mediators.

It is also known that Iran conveyed its willingness to open the Strait of Hormuz within a week if the US lifts its military pressure and economic sanctions.

[Anchor]

Then can we view this as an indication that an agreement between the US and Iran is imminent?

[Reporter]

Earlier in his UN General Assembly speech, President Trump harshly criticized Iran, stating that whether it faces total annihilation or reconstruction depends entirely on his decision.

[Donald Trump / US President : I have to make a major decision—whether to reach an agreement so Iran can rise again and become a much greater nation than before, or to swiftly and completely destroy the Iranian regime.]

The Iranian delegation even walked out during this speech.

Even so, the fact that the New York talks took place and that Trump has foreshadowed a subsequent meeting suggests a continued willingness to pursue a diplomatic solution.

However, following its blockade of maritime routes preventing Iranian oil tankers from moving, the US has also begun blocking airspace starting today (September 23) to prevent aircraft from flying to and from Iran.

This is seen as an effort to increase pressure to secure a deal favorable to the US. In response, Iran's hardline military leadership has pushed back against the US, warning that "destructive and unpredictable strikes" are ready.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is scheduled to take the podium at the UN General Assembly shortly, which should provide a clearer gauge of the future negotiation outlook.

[Anchor]

We also received reports that Chinese President Xi Jinping has departed for the US. When is he expected to arrive?

[Reporter]

President Xi Jinping will arrive in the US tomorrow morning, Korea time.

A US-China summit is scheduled to be held in Washington on the 24th, local time.

While there are many other agenda items such as AI and trade, given China's enormous influence over Iran, the Iranian issue is expected to be a major topic of discussion as well.

International oil prices had been falling on expectations of peace talks, but they recently rebounded and are currently fluctuating around the 100-dollar mark.

(Photo: Yonhap News)
Reported by Lee Hee-hoon | Video by Cho Moo-hwan