Trump discussed a possible Iran deal as Costa Rica’s minister attended a regional security meeting
At a New York meeting focused on the Shield of the Americas, Costa Rican foreign minister Manuel Tovar attended without first informing President Laura Fernández. Separately, Donald Trump described U.S.-Iran talks as productive and said an agreement might be reached, though his comments gave conflicting timelines.
Key points
- Trump said discussions involving his envoys and mediators had produced promising ideas and laid groundwork for an agreement with Iran.
Evidence · 4 source statements
the groundwork exists for reaching an agreement to end the conflict with Iran.
met with the mediators on Iran deal
described the talks as productive.
a lot of good thoughts
- Tovar’s attendance without advance notice became a point of dispute in Costa Rica; Fernández said she should have attended the meeting herself.
Evidence · 4 source statements
she should have been the one to attend the meeting of Trump’s anti-cartel “Shield of the Americas” alliance in New York
Tovar attended “without giving prior notice or informing” the president, a conservative Trump ally, of his participation, Costa Rica’s government said.
Who's involved
Donald Trump
He spoke about the U.S. contacts with Iran.
He characterized the talks as productive, said many good ideas had been raised, and suggested an agreement might be possible.
What they said · 5 source statements
the groundwork exists for reaching an agreement to end the conflict with Iran.
described the talks as productive.
a lot of good thoughts
the United States and Iran may conclude a peace agreement before the midterm Congressional elections due on November 3.
Laura Fernández
She was Costa Rica’s president and the minister attended the meeting without informing her beforehand.
She said she, rather than Tovar, should have attended and that her presence was necessary at the meeting focused on combating drug cartels.
What they said · 2 source statements
she should have been the one to attend the meeting of Trump’s anti-cartel “Shield of the Americas” alliance in New York
Costa Rica’s government
It addressed Tovar’s attendance and Fernández’s absence.
It said Tovar had not given Fernández prior notice and that this failure led to her not attending.
What they said · 2 source statements
Tovar attended “without giving prior notice or informing” the president, a conservative Trump ally, of his participation, Costa Rica’s government said.
Where accounts differ
When Trump thought a U.S.-Iran agreement might be reached
- Trump was quoted as saying a deal might come just after the U.S. legislative elections in November.
Evidence · 1 source statement
- Trump was also quoted as saying a peace deal might come before the November 3 midterm elections.
Evidence · 1 source statement
the United States and Iran may conclude a peace agreement before the midterm Congressional elections due on November 3.
The two reported timelines place a possible agreement on opposite sides of the November elections.
What was reported
- A meeting convened by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio took place on Tuesday alongside the UN General Assembly.
Reported independently by 2: AFP, South China Morning Post
Evidence · 2 source statements
The meeting took place on Tuesday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.
- Tovar attended the meeting without notifying Fernández beforehand, according to Costa Rica’s government.
Reported independently by 3: AFP, Okaz, South China Morning Post
Evidence · 3 source statements
Tovar attended “without giving prior notice or informing” the president, a conservative Trump ally, of his participation, Costa Rica’s government said.
- Trump said Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff had met with mediators about an Iran deal, and described the talks as productive.
One source: TASS
Evidence · 2 source statements
met with the mediators on Iran deal
described the talks as productive.
- Trump said an Iran agreement might come after the November U.S. legislative elections; in another account, he said a peace agreement might come before the November 3 midterm elections.
Reported independently by 2: Le Monde, TASS
Evidence · 2 source statements
the United States and Iran may conclude a peace agreement before the midterm Congressional elections due on November 3.
- Costa Rica’s government said the minister’s failure to inform Fernández led to her not attending the meeting.
One source: Okaz
Evidence · 1 source statement
How coverage differed
TASS reports — They focused on Trump’s comments about Iran talks and possible agreement.
Clarín, South China Morning Post, and Okaz — They focused on Tovar’s attendance without notice and Fernández’s absence from the regional security meeting.
Still unclear
- No Iran agreement was announced.
- The reports give no account of Tovar’s own explanation for attending without notifying Fernández.
Not heard from
- Manuel Tovar — His attendance is central to the Costa Rican dispute, but no statement from him appears.
- Iranian officials — The reports discuss possible U.S.-Iran contacts and an agreement, but include no Iranian position.