US President Donald Trump has warned that he could annihilate Iran if there is no deal to end the war, but also suggested an agreement could come soon amid a diplomatic push at the United Nations. In a speech at the UN General Assembly in New York, Trump said he had a big decision to make regarding Iran. He stated that a deal could let Iran rebuild and create a greater country than before, or he could annihilate the Islamic Republic quickly.
Iran's Armed Forces have dismissed Trump's comments as propaganda, saying their response is full readiness to inflict more severe, crushing, and unpredictable blows on the aggressors. Despite the fiery rhetoric, discussions continued to try to end the nearly seven-month conflict that began with joint US-Israeli strikes and has since killed thousands, driven up oil prices, and drawn in neighboring countries.
US envoy Steve Witkoff stated that the United States and Iran engaged in lengthy talks on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly through mediators who shuttled between the two sides throughout the day. The mediators will continue their work, with Witkoff hoping that Tuesday's discussions would prove constructive and promising.
Trump also met with leaders of Middle Eastern countries who are keen to restore shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for a fifth of global oil and gas shipments before the war. However, they are wary of giving their longstanding rival Iran too much power. Many of these countries host huge US military bases that have come under repeated Iranian attack throughout the war.
The diplomatic maneuvering comes as Trump faces pressure on multiple fronts, including rising energy costs at home, a widening regional conflict abroad, and the midterms six weeks away that could reshape his political standing. Whether talks produce a deal or the war escalates further carries consequences for global oil markets, Gulf security, and millions of Iranians.
Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi met with Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani of Qatar, which has spent months trying to de-escalate the conflict. A senior Iranian official said Tehran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within days if the US eased military pressure and lifted its blockade on Iranian ports.
On the table at the Gulf states' meeting with Trump is a Qatari proposal for a common security framework involving Iran and the Arab Gulf states. The proposal is being reviewed by Iran, and any such arrangement would need to provide security guarantees for the Gulf states and expand economic interdependence with Iran.
Key points
- Trump warns Iran could be annihilated if no deal is reached.
- Diplomatic efforts continue at the UN General Assembly.
- A Qatari proposal for a common security framework involving Iran and the Arab Gulf states is being reviewed.
