Donald Trump: President Donald Trump used his address to the 81st UN General Assembly on September 22, 2026, to frame nearly seven months of war with Iran as heading toward either a negotiated deal or the destruction of the Islamic Republic.
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What Trump Said
Defending his administration’s aggressive approach, Trump said military strength and economic pressure had succeeded where diplomacy failed. “Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before, or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly?” he asked.
He predicted a peace deal would likely come only after the November 3 midterm elections, claiming Iran’s leadership was “waiting to see” how he performs at the polls. He also urged other nations to tighten economic isolation of Iran.
Later, Trump confirmed his team, including Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff, held roughly three hours of talks with Iranian officials on the sidelines of the assembly, calling Iran’s choice one between “potential greatness or obliteration.”
Iran’s Sharp Response
Tehran pushed back firmly. IRGC spokesperson Hossein Mohebbi said Trump had made similar threats before without following through. Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff warned of “even harsher, crushing, and unpredictable blows” if attacked again, insisting repeated US threats should not be mistaken for strength.
Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf added, “We will never surrender, and we will not shut down the country. We will respond with power, just as we have done so far.”
The Bigger Picture
Donald Trump: The exchange comes against the backdrop of a war that began in February 2026, following an earlier Israeli-US strike in 2025. Trump also touted the US economy and AI policy in his speech, and signed an Arctic defence agreement with Greenland and Denmark afterward.
