US offers Iran talks at UN as Middle East tensions escalate

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on Tuesday, 22 September, that Washington is open to high-level talks with Iranian officials during the UN General Assembly in New York. While no formal meeting is currently scheduled, Rubio told NBC’s Today show that the administration remains willing to engage if the dialogue leads to the primary US objective: ensuring Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon. Military Escalation in Yemen The diplomatic overture comes amid a sharp military escalation in the Red Sea. Houthi-affiliated media reported on Tuesday that Saudi-led coalition airstrikes on the port city of Mokha killed at least six people, including two children. The strikes follow a rapid Houthi offensive that has seized control of Yemen’s Red Sea coastline, a move that G7 foreign ministers condemned on Monday as a threat to global energy flows and international shipping. To bolster regional security, the United Kingdom confirmed late Monday it will provide air-to-air refuelling support for Saudi warplanes. The British Ministry of Defence stated the move follows a direct request from Riyadh after recent Houthi drone and missile attacks targeted the Saudi capital. G7 nations have collectively urged Tehran to cease arming the Houthi movement, citing violations of UN Security Council resolutions. Sanctions and Aviation Disputes Economic tensions also intensified as US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that all Iranian airlines could face a global shutdown within days…