Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi delivers latest U.S. proposal to Tehran

By Vaughn Cockayne - The Washington Times - Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi presented the latest U.S. peace proposal to Tehran’s Cabinet on Wednesday after a week of rapid diplomacy in New York, according to an Iranian government spokesperson.

Spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani said Mr. Araghchi briefed the Cabinet on the U.S. peace proposal, delivered Tuesday via mediators, and on his bilateral meetings with ministers and heads of state during the U.N. General Assembly in New York City last week.

“Despite the enemy’s efforts to isolate Iran, the Iranian delegation was at the center of attention and meetings,” Ms. Mohajerani posted on X.

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Iran had put forward a peace proposal last week that would have gradually lifted its blockade over the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for sanctions relief, a ceasefire and the unfreezing of $12 billion in assets. The U.S. also would have removed its naval blockade of Iran under the deal’s terms.

The proposal came after Qatari mediators delivered counterproposals between Iranian and U.S. delegations at the U.N. summit.

President Trump said both sides met via mediators for at least three hours. His envoys, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, were reportedly present during the meetings.

Mr. Trump publicly rejected Iran’s ceasefire proposal over the weekend, but Mr. Araghchi said mediators had not delivered an official U.S. response.

Mr. Araghchi reportedly met with mediators on Monday to discuss the U.S.’ latest response and deliver his own message. Qatari mediators then briefed the foreign minister on the U.S. response during a stopover Tuesday in Doha, Qatar, according to a Reuters report citing an unnamed official.

It remains unclear if the past week’s diplomatic overtures will maintain momentum into October, the eighth month of the U.S.-Iran war. Both sides have yet to hold direct negotiations since June, when the sides met in Pakistan for the first set of talks after the signing of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding.

Since the breakdown of the agreement in July, Iran has lobbied for a return to the deal’s terms, while the U.S. has increased its reliance on economic warfare to pressure Tehran into capitulation.