US-Iran talks continue with no breakthrough but ongoing dialogue, Rubio says

NEW YORK, September 23. /TASS/. No progress has been achieved so far in contacts between Iran and the United States, but the sides are at least exchanging ideas and signals, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on the sidelines of the 81st UN General Assembly in New York.

"Again, the United States always remains open to talking to almost anyone in the world about a conflict, or a crisis or some disagreement that we may have. So if there is an opportunity to exchange ideas and messages, we will, and that's what largely yesterday was," the top US diplomat said, commenting on indirect US-Iranian contacts at the UN.

"It was positive in that regard, but ultimately, you know, I don't want to mischaracterize this as a major breakthrough. But at the same time, I think it was significant that at least there was a conversation," Rubio added.

US President Donald Trump said on September 22 that the groundwork exists for reaching an agreement to end the conflict with Iran. He said his son-in-law Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff "met with the mediators on Iran deal" and described the talks as productive. In his words, "a lot of good thoughts" were brought up in the course of the talks. He also said that the United States and Iran may conclude a peace agreement before the midterm Congressional elections due on November 3.

The United States and Israel began a war with Iran on February 28. In June, Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding providing for an immediate cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including in Lebanon.

However, on the night of July 8, the US resumed large-scale strikes against Iran, accusing it of violating the terms of the agreements reached regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Subsequently, the US administration effectively signaled an end to the use of large-scale military force against Iran, shifting toward an attempt to economically strangle the country through sanctions.