US-Iran Shuttle Talks Spark Progress Hopes Amid Steady Oil Prices

The US and Iran have held their first shuttle talks in months, raising hopes for progress towards ending the Middle East war.

US President Donald Trump said that he had to decide whether to make a deal with Iran or 'annihilate' the country, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi communicated with US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner through mediators at the UN General Assembly in New York.

Iran's conditions for peace include an end to the war on all fronts and a halt to US 'acts of aggression', according to its Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei.

The diplomatic opening has helped keep oil prices near two-week lows, with Brent crude holding just below the $100-a-barrel threshold.