Daily Recap: Politics — 23 September 2026

Diplomacy around the Middle East dominates the day’s politics, with tentative US-Iran contacts at the UN offering a possible opening even as public rhetoric from Tehran, Paris and Jerusalem stays combative. Elsewhere, leaders use high-profile stages and national legislatures to p...

The United States and Iran hold their first shuttle talks in months on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, creating a possible opening for wider diplomacy over the Middle East war. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner communicate through mediators in New York rather than meeting face to face.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian takes a defiant line at the UN, telling Donald Trump that Iran will not “bend at the knee” or “bow its head” under pressure. The speech underscores Tehran’s public resistance even as indirect contacts with Washington resume in New York amid efforts to ease regional fighting.

A US-backed Board of Peace is preparing to present a six-month, $2.45 billion recovery plan for Gaza focused on early reconstruction and governance. The proposal, due to be unveiled at a meeting on Wednesday, reportedly includes dozens of projects aimed at stabilizing the territory in the near term after months of war.

Israel denounces Emmanuel Macron after the French president tells the UN that Hamas has never carried out an attack in the West Bank. Israeli officials call the remark inaccurate and respond angrily as Macron broadens his criticism of Israeli conduct in the occupied territory.

Oil prices fall after Donald Trump says US and Iranian representatives have held “very good” talks at the United Nations. In early Asian trading, Brent crude drops to about $98.91 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate to about $89.93, pushing both benchmarks back below the $100 level.

Italy’s parliament clears the way for a return to nuclear energy as the Senate gives final approval to legislation reversing a decades-old post-Chernobyl policy. The move opens the door to planning future nuclear plants and marks a major shift in the country’s long-standing energy stance.

Argentine President Javier Milei uses his UN General Assembly address to renew Argentina’s claim over the Falkland Islands. The speech comes as tensions with the United Kingdom rise over offshore oil exploration near the British overseas territory, sharpening a sovereignty dispute that has persisted for decades.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado fails in three attempts to return to Venezuela within 24 hours, according to her team. The efforts involve both air and sea travel, and each ends with Machado being turned away, highlighting the continuing pressure on the country’s opposition.