Story summary
US President Donald Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where Xi pressed Trump to adopt Beijing's stance against Taiwan independence, which Taiwan rejected outright. Meanwhile, Taiwan is crucial for global tech and economy due to its leading semiconductor production; TSMC alone produces the majority of advanced chips that power smartphones, AI systems, and more. As Stanford Hoover fellow Eyck Freymann noted, economic disruption from a conflict over Taiwan would be severe.
In unrelated developments, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian met with US media at the UN General Assembly, where he denied Iran's nuclear ambitions while offering to dilute its enriched uranium and allow inspections under international law. He also blamed Washington for ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) estimates that Iran has over 440 kilograms of uranium enriched up to 60%, raising concerns despite Pezeshkian's denials.
Taiwan's representative, Ambassador Alexander Yui, clarified during an interview on CBS’s "Face the Nation" that while Taiwan was discussed between Trump and Xi, it wasn't a major focus. He emphasized there has been no change in US policy towards Taiwan amid recent tensions with China.
Written for “Taiwan Iran Us Relations Midterms” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 386 other(s) covering the same event.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian flatly denied Thursday that Tehran wants a nuclear bomb while claiming Iran is willing to submit its nuclear program for international inspection, blaming Washington for the nearly seven-month war in the Middle East and accusing it of blocking diplomacy.
asserted
Iran → deny → diplomacy
Asked point-blank during an exclusive interview on Fox News’ "Special Report," "Do you want a nuclear bomb or not?"
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you → ask → bomb
Pezeshkian firmly rejected the premise.
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Pezeshkian → reject → premise
Our martyred, esteemed supreme leader had announced several times that from a religious decree, it is unholy.
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it → martyr → decree
It is illegal," he told Brett Baier, referencing religious edicts issued against weapons of mass destruction.
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he → tell → destruction
The Iranian leader's public denial came amid long-term international scrutiny of Iran’s nuclear program and its enrichment of uranium to levels well beyond those typically used for civilian nuclear power.
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denial → come → power
This, in fact, became President Donald Trump's central rationale for launching Operation Epic Fury back in February.
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This → become → February
On Thursday, however, Pezeshkian went on to indicate that Tehran would be open to lowering its enrichment levels and allowing outside verification as part of an effort to ease nuclear tensions.
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Tehran → go → tensions
We said we’re willing to dilute them.
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we → say → them
It’s not a big deal.
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It → ’ → ?
We are willing to submit ourselves to verification," he said.
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he → submit → verification
Pezeshkian also pointed to the failed memorandum of understanding, or MOU, signed by himself and President Donald Trump in June that was intended to halt hostilities and establish a framework for a broader U.S.-Iran agreement.
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that → point → agreement
The process was intended by Washington to lead to an end to Iran’s nuclear ambitions and included a 60-day process toward that final agreement.
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process → intend → agreement
"We have no problems.
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We → have → problems
We did reach an agreement with your president," Pezeshkian said of President Donald Trump, who signed the agreement.
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who → reach → agreement
"That agreement was signed, and based on that, we are willing and still wish to move forward," he claimed.
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he → sign → that
"And the framework was agreed upon.
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framework → agree → ?
We had not closed the Strait of Hormuz; it was open, without any legal justification or framework," he said.
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he → close → justification
"They attacked us.
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They → attack → us
They assassinated and martyred our esteemed supreme leader, our scientists are military commanders and government."
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scientists → assassinate → leader
Pezeshkian went on to criticize Washington for the subsequent breakdown in diplomacy but insisted Tehran remains prepared to reach an agreement.
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Tehran → go → agreement
"The problem is that America, instead of conducting dialog, they descend into the arena by bombing us first, by blocking every pathway.
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they → conduct → pathway
We are ready," he said.
asserted
he → say → ?
"This is not the way to conduct yourself on the world stage.
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This → conduct → stage
They can have free access to see whatever we have, but not to put us under such pressure, under blockades, deny us access."
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we → have → access
Pezeshkian also placed broader blame on Washington for the war.
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Pezeshkian → place → war
"We do not seek to kill Americans, as shown by actions, demonstrable actions.
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We → seek → actions
America has sought to kill Iranians," Pezeshkian said before adding: "What we know is that if we’re attacked, we must defend ourselves."
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we → seek → ourselves
Addressing U.S. military strikes — including Operation Outcast — and increasing secondary sanctions, Pezeshkian said Iran would continue resisting Washington’s campaign.
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Iran → address → campaign
"This is something that has been the doing of the United States," he said.
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he → say → States
"We will keep resisting.
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We → keep → ?
We will find ways, and the life of our country will continue.
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life → find → country
We will remain.
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We → remain → ?
"
"Yes, we do have economic issues, certainly.
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we → have → issues
But in order to remain, we will go through any hardship and endure," he said of Iran.
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he → remain → Iran
"If America thinks that they can keep sanctioning us, we have nothing to do, nor do we consider any type of American elections.
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we → think → elections
If the current American government, within international legal frameworks, wishes to reach an agreement, fine.
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government → wish → agreement
If not, before the elections or after the elections, what difference does it make for us?"
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it → make → us
Pezeshkian repeated that Iran does not want the war to continue, while blaming Israel for helping provoke the conflict and putting responsibility on Washington to bring it to an end.
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war → repeat → end
"We will stand resolutely to defend ourselves.
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We → stand → ourselves
…and 11 more, not listed.
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