Indirect talks between U.S. and Iranian officials, mediated primarily by Qatar, resumed on the sidelines of the September 2026 UN General Assembly amid an ongoing seven-month conflict that began with U.S.-Israel strikes on Iran in February. These contacts center on an amended Iranian proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days in exchange for lifting the U.S. naval blockade, unfreezing assets, and easing oil sanctions, followed by broader negotiations on Iran's nuclear program. President Trump publicly rejected Tehran's initial offer while signaling further engagement, with U.S. envoys including Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner involved alongside Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Progress remains limited by disputes over sequencing, nuclear enrichment limits, and verification, leaving the path to direct peace talks by year-end dependent on near-term diplomatic momentum and de-escalation steps.