Trump Expresses Interest in Meeting Iranian Officials at UN, NBC Reports Ongoing Diplomatic Efforts

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed a desire to arrange a meeting with Iranian officials currently in New York, according to an American official cited by CNN on September 22, 2026 ^[1]. The reported interest in direct engagement comes as part of a broader pattern of diplomatic outreach toward Tehran that has persisted across multiple months.

The timing of Trump’s reported interest coincides with his attendance at United Nations proceedings, where tensions between Trump and media organizations covering his activities have escalated. On the same day CNN reported the meeting interest, sources indicated that Trump expressed surprise and criticism at the presence of CNN correspondents at the UN General Assembly, telling the network they “should not be there” and referencing prior agreements about coverage ^[2].

This incident reflects broader friction between Trump and CNN. Earlier in September, CNN reported that journalists from the network were prevented from entering White House premises on Sunday due to restrictions imposed by Trump, with the network characterizing the action as an illegal infringement on First Amendment rights ^[3]. In late August, Trump had publicly criticized CNN and MSNBC, describing the networks as being in a “spiral of death” and claiming they lack viewership ^[4].

Trump’s reported interest in meeting Iranian officials aligns with earlier statements about his diplomatic intentions. In August 2026, NBC News reported that Trump had informed his advisors he still wished to continue efforts to reach an agreement with Iran ^[5]. This followed a June 2026 CNN report citing a U.S. official stating that Trump believed an agreement with Iran was becoming imminent, with additional reporting from Israeli Channel 12 and Axios indicating that negotiations had reached an advanced stage ^[6].

In April 2026, Trump told ABC that he believed reaching an agreement was “the best option” because it would allow Iran to rebuild ^[7]. These statements suggest a consistent diplomatic posture across multiple months, despite the absence of publicly announced formal negotiations or breakthroughs.

The pattern of reported diplomatic interest contrasts with Trump’s simultaneous military positioning in the region. In April 2026, the Washington Post reported that the Trump administration was sending thousands of soldiers to the region specifically to pressure Iran into reaching an agreement, including approximately 6,000 troops aboard a carrier strike group with accompanying vessels, with an additional 4,200 personnel from the Boxer Amphibious Group and Marine infantry expected to arrive by month’s end ^[7].

Earlier remarks from Trump also indicated skepticism about Iranian military capabilities. In March 2026, Trump claimed that Iran had presented footage of non-existent suicide boats firing on ships at sea, and characterized Iran as a militarily ineffective and weak force despite its proficiency in media manipulation and public relations .

The reported UN meeting interest represents a continuation of Trump’s stated diplomatic approach, though the actual feasibility and scope of any such meeting remains unclear. No confirmation of a completed meeting or formal negotiations has been reported in available sources.