US-Iran standoff: What UAE residents need to know this evening, September 24

The US-Iran conflict entered a tense diplomatic and economic phase on Thursday, with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian using his address to the United Nations to reject US pressure while leaving the door open to further negotiations.

At the same time, Tehran has warned that the conflict could widen beyond the Gulf and Red Sea, while Saudi Arabia said it intercepted six ballistic missiles launched by Yemen's Houthis.

For UAE residents, the developments are significant because the conflict continues to affect shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, energy markets, regional airspace and the wider security environment.

Here are the key developments to watch this evening:

Pezeshkian struck a defiant tone during his UN address in New York on Wednesday, saying Iran would not surrender to US pressure.

He accused Washington of aggression and said Iran had not started the war. His remarks came as US and Iranian officials held indirect discussions in New York aimed at finding a way out of the conflict.

The talks remain difficult. Iranian and US officials have indicated that diplomacy is still possible, but the two sides remain divided over the conditions for ending hostilities and easing the pressure on Iran.

Pezeshkian's remarks therefore came against the backdrop of an unusual combination of military pressure and renewed diplomatic contacts.

Yahya Rahim Safavi, an adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, warned on Thursday that the conflict could spread beyond the current theatres if the US or Israel launches another attack.

Safavi said the fighting had already extended from the Arabian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz towards the Red Sea and suggested that further escalation could push the conflict towards the Indian Ocean.

The comments are a warning rather than an announcement of a new operation, but they underline the wider risks facing shipping and trade routes across the region.

Saudi Arabia said its air defences intercepted and destroyed six ballistic missiles launched by the Houthis in Yemen.

According to Major General Turki Al Malki, spokesman for the Saudi-led coalition, the missiles were aimed at Taif and Yanbu. Saudi authorities also issued alerts in areas affected by the incident.

The incident adds to concerns about the conflict spreading across several fronts in the region, particularly around the Red Sea and Arabian Peninsula.

Tehran has reportedly presented Washington with a proposal that includes a region-wide ceasefire lasting up to 60 days, the phased reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a timetable for wider negotiations.

The proposal, reported by regional sources briefed on the discussions, would also include a halt to attacks on Arab countries. Iran has previously said it could reopen Hormuz within days if the US reduces military pressure and lifts its blockade of Iranian ports.

No agreement has been announced.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said Washington remains open to diplomacy while maintaining that military options are available. The negotiations remain fluid, with the two sides still divided over the sequence of steps required to end the conflict.

The maritime confrontation remains active despite the diplomatic contacts.

US Central Command said its forces had redirected 115 commercial vessels as of September 23 while enforcing what Washington calls its "steel wall blockade" on Iran.

CENTCOM says the figure refers to vessels that were redirected, rather than ships that were seized or destroyed. The blockade targets vessels travelling to or from Iranian ports and coastal areas, according to the US military.

This is particularly important for the UAE and other Gulf states because the Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important energy shipping routes. Prolonged disruption can affect oil prices, tanker rates, insurance costs and the wider cost of transporting goods.

The New York talks have also exposed differences over how much room Iranian negotiators have to make concessions.

Iranian officials have defended the contacts, saying they were conducted through mediation and were intended to communicate Tehran's conditions. At the same time, reports of criticism from within Iran have raised questions about how much domestic backing negotiators have for any potential agreement.

The key issue now is whether the diplomatic channel can produce an agreement that both sides are prepared to implement.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is also due to address the UN General Assembly on Thursday, with the wider Middle East conflict expected to dominate his remarks.

His appearance comes as Israel remains closely involved in the US-Iran conflict and as tensions continue over the war in Gaza and developments in the occupied West Bank.

The UN gathering has therefore become an important diplomatic arena for several overlapping regional crises.

For people in the UAE, the most important developments are likely to be around Hormuz, shipping, travel, energy prices and regional security.

Any progress towards reopening the Strait of Hormuz could ease pressure on shipping and energy markets. Conversely, further military escalation or a prolonged blockade could keep transport and insurance costs elevated and put additional pressure on regional trade.

Air travel and maritime traffic could also be affected if the conflict expands or security risks increase.

For now, the situation remains fluid, with diplomatic efforts continuing alongside military and economic pressure. The key question is whether the US-Iran talks in New York can lead to concrete steps towards a ceasefire and the reopening of vital regional trade routes.