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.
The following is the transcript of the interview with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian airing on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Sept. 27, 2026.
asserted
following → follow → Sept.
It was recorded on Sept. 25.
asserted
It → record → Sept.
In the name of God, the most gracious and the most merciful, I greet you.
asserted
I → greet → you
Here in New York, Iran's foreign minister presented a proposal to the United States through mediators that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz after seven days if Tehran's conditions were met.
asserted
conditions → present → days
At that point, talks about ending the war would begin, and possibly talks about the nuclear program.
uncertain
talks → end → program
When do you expect to get a response from the United States?
asserted
you → expect → States
If this message reaches the President of the United States, or the interviewers and those involved in the discussions, naturally the process will begin from the very day they accept it.
asserted
they → reach → it
What would be the conditions to reopen the Strait of Hormuz?
asserted
What → reopen → Hormuz
We had previously reached an agreement based on the MOU that was signed in Pakistan.
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that → reach → Pakistan
I signed it, and the President of the United States signed it, and we were proceeding based on that agreement.
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we → sign → agreement
We could have continued it, but unfortunately, because of the lack of coordination, the process was interrupted.
uncertain
process → continue → coordination
Now, in fact, there is a framework along the same path, with the same objectives that were established.
asserted
that → be → objectives
Ultimately, the requests that were included in that memorandum and MOU have now been broken down into stages so that we can proceed according to those stages.
uncertain
we → include → stages
If the United States agrees to proceed in that way, everything will return to the way it was before.
asserted
it → agree → way
Because right now, it's the United States that has blocked our way, and naturally, Iran has also blocked the way from its side.
asserted
Iran → block → side
These are things that both sides need to open up first; then we can sit down at the negotiating table and discuss other issues at hand.
asserted
we → need → hand
Well, you and President Trump signed this deal back in June, but it fell apart because of the disagreement on the shipping lanes, and then the military, the IRGC, began firing on ships, taking what they called an unauthorized route.
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they → sign → what
Has all that been ironed out?
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that → iron → ?
And will Iran charge money for passing through that strait?
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Iran → charge → strait
The issue that we had reached an understanding on should, in principle, have been handled according to that understanding.
uncertain
we → reach → understanding
And we are still committed to this MOU and willing to implement it.
asserted
we → commit → it
Naturally, problems may arise along the way.
uncertain
problems → arise → way
Any process of conflict resolution needs to proceed through dialogue, with some patience and tolerance.
asserted
process → need → patience
But unfortunately, this understanding did not materialize.
asserted
understanding → materialize → ?
The deviation from the agreement could have been resolved through dialogue, but ultimately it turned into the breakdown of the understanding.
uncertain
it → resolve → understanding
We could have reached this point by talking and resolving the issues.
uncertain
We → reach → issues
Waiting for a month would not have been difficult.
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Waiting → wait → month
If they had waited for a month, the path would have been reopened automatically in accordance with that understanding, and the remaining stages of the MOU could have continued.
uncertain
stages → wait → MOU
But the urgency that developed in the process created a problem.
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that → develop → problem
If President Trump accepts this proposal, can you guarantee your military will abide by it?
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military → accept → it
Obviously, we will abide by whatever we commit to.
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we → abide → whatever
What caused the disagreement in this process, and what led to the dispute along this path, was the failure to reach an agreement that they were supposed to honor, but they did not.
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they → cause → that
The routes that we had agreed upon were supposed to be determined between Iran and Oman, with their coordination, for passage and transit.
asserted
we → agree → passage
Basically, if a ship was going to pass outside of those routes, it was supposed to coordinate with them.
asserted
it → go → them
They didn't, and unfortunately, it led to a confrontation.
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it → do → confrontation
If they operate according to that framework, I think all of us will abide by it.
uncertain
all → operate → it
Well, President Trump said he was open to meeting with you when you were here.
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you → say → you
That didn't happen.
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That → happen → ?
Would you be willing—if you want direct communication—would you be willing to speak directly with him?
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you → want → him
You see what the issue is…now, the atmosphere of distrust that has developed between Iran and the United States is because we have had several rounds of talks with the United States.
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we → see → States
…and 222 more, not listed.
The Aporia
