Iranian President Pezeshkian brought a diplomatic tone to UNGA in New York. What did his speech signal?

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who travelled to New York to attend the UN General Assembly, met with American journalists and media representatives.

In an interview with the conservative US broadcaster Fox News, he signaled a willingness to make concessions in the nuclear dispute with the United States.

Washington has made clear that Iran must never be allowed to possess nuclear weapons. Asked whether Iran was prepared to hand over its highly enriched uranium, Pezeshkian said his country would comply with its obligationsunder international law and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

In its most recent assessment, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), estimated that Iran had more than 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to up to 60%.

Since the US-Israeli attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities in 2025, Iran suspended its cooperation with the IAEA. The agency has continued to demand access to Iranian facilities and updated information on its nuclear stockpile and the whereabouts of its nuclear material.

Asked point-blank "Do you want a nuclear bomb or not?" during the exclusive interview on Fox News' "Special Report," Pezeshkian firmly rejected the premise.

"Not at all. Not at all. Our martyred, esteemed supreme leader had announced several times that, from a religious decree, it is unholy. It is illegal," he told Bret Baier, referencing religious edicts issued against weapons of mass destruction.

Despite Pezeshkians claims, the IAEA has assessed that Iran's fissile material is being enriched far beyond what is needed for civilian use. 

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Diplomacy: A first step?

A major breakthrough in the conflict between Iran and the United States is not expected anytime soon, Iran expert Arman Mahmoudian, a lecturer in Middle East Studies at the University of South Florida, told DW.

"Pezeshkian does not have the authority to initiate comprehensive de-escalation with the United States. In particular, hardliners and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) appear to continue to wield considerable influence over Iran's decision-making process," he added.

Nevertheless, Mahmoudian thinks Pezeshkian's visit could help establish a more direct channel of communication between Tehran and Washington.

He also sees the possibility of creating a framework for future negotiations in New York, adding that the two sides could develop a roadmap that would pave the way for more substantive talks and, in the longer term, potentially contribute to de-escalation.

There are already signs of this, including meetings between Iranian and US delegations earlier this week. The White House, meanwhile, confirmed that "positive and constructive" talks were continuing through intermediaries.

Hormuz — and Houthis — as leverage

The future of the Strait of Hormuz is also at the center of the discussions. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reportedly said that Tehran had presented Washington with a proposal to resume negotiations.

Under the proposal, the strategically important waterway could be reopened within seven days if certain conditions were met. It remains unclear what those conditions are.

In the past, Iran has demanded the release of frozen Iranian assets, an end to the US blockade of Iranian ports and vessels, and a commitment by Washington not to interfere in Iran's internal affairs.

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The Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20 million barrels of oil normally pass every day — roughly 20% of global oil consumption — has become one of Iran's most important sources of leverage.

The United States has failed to eliminate all of Iran's capabilities to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, Kelly Grieco, a senior fellow at the Stimson Center, told DW in July.

This is despite the US attacks having caused significant damage to Iran's navy and defense industry. 

"At a certain point, it becomes really hard to find some of these targets," said Grieco. "They're mobile. They're distributed."

Without a long-term strategy, Grieco warned, the United States could therefore become trapped in a recurring cycle: Iran rebuilds its military capabilities, Washington launches another round of attacks, and the cycle repeats itself.

Nearly seven months after the start of the Iran war, the conflict has also spread to a second strategically important shipping route.

The Iran-backed Houthi movement has expanded its control over Yemen's Red Sea coast and the strategically important area around the Bab al-Mandab Strait. This gives Iran another important lever along major international shipping routes.

Balancing pressure and negotiations

Mahmoudian expects Iran to continue pursuing a dual strategy of military pressure and diplomacy, saying that Tehran is likely to continue using the Strait of Hormuz as leverage and to prevent a full return to normal shipping traffic. 

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"At the same time, Iran will most likely continue rebuilding its military and strategic infrastructure inside the country," he said. "Reports suggest that Iranian authorities are already moving quickly to reconstruct some damaged facilities."

On the diplomatic front, he added that Iran is likely to continue negotiations with the US, either directly or through intermediaries.

Tehran is aware that the current situation, with the continuing threat of military attacks, sanctions and economic pressure, is not sustainable in the long term, Mahmoudian said, adding that Iran will therefore continue to have an interest in reaching a political agreement with Washington.

A deal with Iran will require time and difficult negotiations, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in New York on September 23, playing down expectations of a quick agreement. At the same time, he stressed that President Donald Trump has military options at his disposal alongside the diplomatic route.