A senior Iranian official said the two sides remain far from a potential deal after US and Iranian officials held their first known indirect talks since the ceasefire collapsed in July.

A senior Iranian official said on Wednesday that Tehran was reviewing Washington’s response to its peace proposals, but significant differences remain. The remarks followed indirect talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner. 

During his speech to the General Assembly, Trump said a deal with Iran was possible but also threatened to annihilate the Islamic Republic. “I have a big decision to make. Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before, maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world,” the President said on Tuesday. “Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?”

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian responded to Trump during his address to the UN General Assembly on Wednesday, condemning what he called ‘signs of a bullying mentality. He condemned what he called “signs of a bullying mentality.” 

“We will never bow our head or bend at the knee,” Pezeshkian said, adding, “It must be understood by Mr. Trump and those who seek to bully us that we are ready for dialogue and diplomacy and negotiations without accepting the language of force.”

A senior Iranian official told Kyodo News earlier this week that Tehran sent the US a new proposal that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if Washington takes steps to lift its blockade and ease military pressure. The proposal was relayed to the US through intermediaries as top Iranian officials, including Pezeshkian, were preparing to travel to New York City for the General Assembly gathering. 

Iranian state-affiliated media later disputed reports that Tehran had made such an offer.

The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz was a key provision in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in June. Under the MOU, Iran committed to allowing traffic through the waterway to return to prewar levels, but was given control over shipping in the Strait. 

The MOU also required Washington to lift its blockade of Iranian ports. However, after the agreement broke down in July, Trump declared the MOU “over” and reimposed the blockade. Tehran has since argued that Washington must fulfill its commitments under the agreement before negotiations to end the conflict permanently can resume.

Since Trump declared the MOU dead in July, Iran has demanded that the US uphold its commitments to the agreement before talks for a permanent end to the conflict resume.