Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson reaffirmed the nation’s core demands for ending the more than seven‑month conflict with the United States. The Iranian side insists that Washington lift the blockade on Iranian ports and release the country’s frozen assets before any substantive progress can be made.

Indirect talks mediated by Qatar

According to Esmail Baghaei, the indirect discussions were conducted through Qatari mediators on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Baghaei emphasized that Iran’s position has not changed, describing the latest meeting as “not anything new.” The unscheduled session marks the first indirect contact between U.S. and Iranian officials since the June cease‑fire collapsed, even as intermittent attacks continue in the Strait of Hormuz and commercial shipping remains below pre‑war levels.

Netanyahu pushes back on French remarks

In a separate development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office called French President Emmanuel Macron’s United Nations remarks a “grotesque absurdity.” Macron had suggested that Hamas activity in the occupied West Bank could not justify Israel’s actions there. A French diplomatic source, speaking anonymously, clarified that Macron meant Hamas has never governed the West Bank, a point the United Nations has not officially translated.

Hamas, while maintaining support among some residents of the occupied West Bank, has never exercised formal governance in the semi‑autonomous territory. During the Gaza war, Israel intensified operations in the West Bank, launching an offensive in early 2025 that targeted refugee camps it described as strongholds of Palestinian militancy.

European response to Israeli settlements

France’s recent stance adds to growing tension after it recognized a Palestinian state in September 2025. Earlier this month, France joined Canada and several European nations in announcing steps to restrict trade from Israeli settlements, reiterating its long‑standing opposition to settlement activity as contrary to international law. The French government also condemned a recent terrorist attack that killed a French‑Israeli citizen.

These diplomatic exchanges occur against the backdrop of ongoing U.S. efforts to manage the broader Middle‑East crisis, with the Trump administration continuing to emphasize a firm stance on Iranian aggression while seeking pathways to de‑escalation.

Original reporting: Alexandria, VA News – WTOP News — read the source article.