WorldPosted at: Sep 21 2026 3:33PM


Mike Waltz says door open for Iran to return to negotiations, sees no timeline for conflict

Washington, Sep 21 (UNI) US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Washington's door remained open for Iran to return to negotiations to end the conflict, but warned that the Trump administration's economic pressure on Tehran would continue.
Speaking at an Al-Monitor Live event in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, Waltz said the administration believed "time is on our side" in the conflict with Iran, which began on February 28.
“I do believe that to be the case,” Waltz said when asked whether Washington believed time was on its side.
He said the “door is open for Iran to come back to the negotiating table,” while dismissing as “fantastical” reports that Tehran had demanded an end to US sanctions and reparations as conditions for renewed talks.
“The Iranian regime is at its weakest point since 1979, and it’s getting weaker,” Waltz said, citing economic pressure and the fall in the value of Iran's currency. “They’re going to come back ( to talks), I hope peacefully and diplomatically.”
Asked whether the conflict could continue until 2029, the end of President Donald Trump's current term, Waltz said he would not set a timeline for the war.
“I don't — I wouldn't necessarily put a timeline on it,” he said, adding that Trump is focused on ensuring that Iran “will never have a nuclear weapon” and that Tehran was welcome to return to negotiations “when they're ready to negotiate in good faith.”
Waltz said the US would maintain “maximum pressure” on Iran's economy in the meantime.
He said the US naval blockade remained in place and claimed that more than one billion barrels of oil had been escorted by the US Navy from Gulf allies to global markets, while Iranian oil exports remained blocked.
Waltz also pointed to economic difficulties in Iran, saying the Iranian rial had fallen below two million rials to the dollar, while inflation was rising and foreign currency reserves were declining.
On the latest escalation involving Iran-backed Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, Waltz said the Trump administration is taking the situation seriously but declined to say what response Washington would take.
He said the US and its allies would continue to take action to protect freedom of navigation and commercial shipping in the region.
“We must have free and open commerce,” Waltz said, referring to major maritime routes including the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandeb and the Suez Canal.
Waltz accused the Houthis and Iran of attacking civilian shipping and said 146 countries at the United Nations had condemned such acts.
On Gaza, Waltz described the administration's approach as a “new type of multilateralism” and said talks with Israel on implementing Trump's 20-point Gaza plan could “move forward after the elections are settled,” referring to Israel's October 27 parliamentary election.
The plan includes a Palestinian technocratic administration, reconstruction and an International Stabilization Force, while negotiations over Hamas' disarmament and an Israeli withdrawal have stalled.
Waltz also said there were “prospective members” interested in joining the Abraham Accords, which seek to normalize relations with Israel, although he did not identify the countries.
He welcomed Israel and Morocco's decision earlier this month to exchange ambassadors.
On Iraq, Waltz praised Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi's efforts to bring Iran-backed militias under state control, saying Iran's “weakened state” could create an opportunity to curb their influence.
Waltz's comments came as the Trump administration continues to face questions over the duration of the conflict with Iran and prospects for a diplomatic resolution. He maintained that Tehran could return to negotiations, but said Washington's economic pressure would remain in place until Iran was prepared to negotiate.
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