A group of Iranian lawmakers has filed an impeachment motion against Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, accusing him of holding unauthorized talks with US President Donald Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, in New York. The motion, submitted by Tehran MP Amirhossein Sabeti, claims Araghchi met Witkoff on September 22 at the United Nations without approval from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. As of Tuesday, the motion had not yet reached parliament's presiding board, the first formal step before any review.
The meeting that sparked the motion
Iran's state broadcaster reported that Araghchi and Witkoff met at the UN on September 22, and that Witkoff requested the meeting. Witkoff later said talks with the Iranian delegation were conducted through mediators who shuttled between the two sides throughout the day. Iran's foreign ministry insists that contact with the US ran only through Qatari go-betweens. Lawmaker Mojtaba Zarei countered that Araghchi had the necessary approval for the contact. The conflicting accounts have left the nature of the encounter unclear, but the political fallout is already visible.
Oil exports hit zero as sanctions bite
While the political fight plays out in Tehran, Iran's oil industry is in freefall. According to Kpler data, Iranian oil exports fell to zero in September — the first time since 1979. In August, loadings were just 255,000 barrels per day, compared to a normal rate of about 1.7 million barrels per day. No laden tankers have escaped the US naval blockade zone since its mid-July reimposition. Iran had about 90 million barrels of crude stored on tankers in July, but that figure dropped to 29 million by early September. On Sunday, Oil Minister Mohsen Paknejad quit.
Trump's shifting signals on talks
President Trump initially called the New York session 'very productive,' but by September 27, after rejecting Iran's ceasefire offer, he said, 'They want to make a deal, but it is not the deal that I want to make.' He still expects more talks. When asked about new strikes on Iran, Trump said he is 'always thinking about it.' The mixed messages have only added to the uncertainty in Tehran, where hardliners see any direct contact as a red line.
Global oil markets react
Oil prices fell on Tuesday, with West Texas Intermediate dropping 2.5% to $88, its lowest in about a month, and Brent crude falling 2.6% to $100.46, its third straight daily loss. The declines came as Saudi Arabia's energy minister said the kingdom's East-West Pipeline is again moving 5.8 million barrels per day, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, the Group of Seven has agreed to release 100 million barrels from emergency oil reserves. The combined effect has eased supply fears, even as Iran's own exports remain choked.
What happens next in parliament
The impeachment motion now sits with parliament's presiding board, which must decide whether to refer it to a committee. That step could take days or weeks. If it advances, Araghchi would face a formal review that could end his tenure. For now, the foreign minister has not commented publicly on the motion. The timing is awkward: Iran is already reeling from the oil export collapse and the resignation of its oil minister, and the last thing the government needs is a high-profile fight over back-channel diplomacy with Washington.
