Overview

• Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called direct negotiations with the United States a “sheer dead end,” undercutting potential outreach by President Masoud Pezeshkian in New York.
• Iran’s Abbas Araghchi met France, Germany, the UK and EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas at the UN and agreed to keep consultations going, with no breakthrough reported.
• German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said the chance of a diplomatic solution before the deadline is extremely slim, though talks would continue even if sanctions return.
• IAEA chief Rafael Grossi met Araghchi and described intensive contacts, saying an inspector team is ready to deploy if an agreement restores access this week.
• The E3 say they could delay snapback only if Iran resumes direct U.S. talks, grants full IAEA access and accounts for more than 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, or UN sanctions will automatically reimpose on Sept. 28 and freeze assets, curb arms deals and target missile development.