Trump threatens to annihilate Iran in UN General Assembly speech

US President Donald Trump delivered a combative address at the United Nations General Assembly on September 22, 2026, vowing to "annihilate the Islamic Republic" of Iran and "drive them into hell" if the country did not abandon its nuclear program and cease supporting terrorism. The speech, which lasted 37 minutes, marked a sharp escalation in rhetoric amid a seven-month-long conflict between the US and Iran, with Trump framing his policies as essential to preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons and dismantling its regional dominance.

Trump’s Threats and Rationale for Military Action

In his speech, Trump accused Iran of being the "number one sponsor of terror" and claimed the US had "prevented Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon" while ending its "position as the dominant power in the Middle East." He posed a stark choice to world leaders: "Do I annihilate the Islamic Republic—and do it quickly… Do I drive them into hell?" The president also referenced the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks and the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led assault on Israel, which he blamed on Iran’s influence.

Trump’s threats came as he reiterated his demand for "complete economic isolation of Iran until it stops its attacks on commercial ships, abandons its nuclear ambitions, and ceases its support for terrorism." He claimed that such measures would stabilize oil prices, citing the US Navy’s recent escort of "more than one billion barrels of oil" through the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway Iran had previously blockaded. The president also warned that Iran’s leadership was "weak and desperate," asserting, "Iran will never have a nuclear weapon."

International Reactions and Diplomatic Tensions

The Iranian delegation reportedly walked out of the session upon hearing Trump’s threats, according to The Independent’s White House correspondent. Meanwhile, Cuba’s delegation left in protest after Trump labeled its government an "absolutely failed state" and accused it of coordinating with "left-wing radicals and communist networks" in the US. The president stopped short of explicitly calling for "regime change" in Cuba but emphasized his administration’s "maximum pressure campaign" to "derail the government" and push for economic liberalization.

Trump’s speech also touched on artificial intelligence, where he criticized the term "artificial intelligence" as misleading and advocated renaming it "super intelligence." He rejected global efforts to regulate AI, calling them "globalist schemes" and comparing critics of the technology to those who warned of "global warming" decades earlier.

Iran’s Response and Potential for Diplomacy

Iran has reportedly offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the US lifts military pressure and lifts its blockade on Iranian ports, according to a senior Iranian official quoted by Reuters. The official urged Washington to "officially announce" a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Masoud Pezeshkian were present at the UN meeting, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio signaling openness to a potential meeting with Tehran.

Despite the confrontational tone, Trump suggested a deal might be possible after the November 3 midterm elections, stating, "I believe we’ll make a deal right after the election because it doesn’t make sense for them not to." He claimed Iran was "waiting to see how I do in the midterm election," though he warned of a "big decision" if negotiations failed.

Context of the US-Iran Conflict

The conflict between the US and Iran has persisted for seven months, with Trump defending his administration’s actions as necessary to counter Tehran’s nuclear ambitions and regional aggression. The war has disrupted global oil supply chains, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, and intensified tensions in the Middle East. Trump’s speech coincided with Iran’s renewed diplomatic overtures, including a potential agreement to ease hostilities in exchange for reduced sanctions.

The president also referenced the 2023 October 7 attacks in Israel, which he attributed to Iran’s support for Hamas, and highlighted the "72,000 of its own citizens" killed by Iran’s regime this year. He framed his policies as a response to a "reality that far too many preferred to ignore," echoing his broader narrative of confronting perceived threats to US security.

The immediate next step in the conflict will likely depend on whether Iran follows through on its offer to ease tensions and whether Trump’s administration pursues diplomatic channels or escalates military pressure. The UN General Assembly meeting has underscored the high stakes of the US-Iran standoff, with both sides signaling a willingness to engage in dialogue while maintaining their most extreme postures.