
The sharp decline follows Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s rejection of direct talks with the United States over Iran’s nuclear programme, limiting the scope for diplomacy by Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in New York.
The announcement signals that last-minute negotiations between Iran and European nations are unlikely to prevent the reimposition of UN sanctions, with a 30-day window to avert the penalties set to expire on Sunday.