U.N - Trump Says He Faces Choice to Make a Deal or ‘Annihilate’ Iran

President Trump said that Iran had been “the bully of the Middle East, but they are the bully no longer.” Earlier, António Guterres, the U.N. secretary general, called on the General Assembly to end conflicts.

Here’s the latest.

President Trump told the United Nations General Assembly in New York that he had a decision to make on Iran: to strike a deal with Tehran or “annihilate the Islamic republic.” His threat, amid a defense of the war launched by the United States and Israel in February, came as allies have begun to openly question whether the United States remains a credible partner.

Mr. Trump, the second world leader to speak at the gathering, also celebrated his military operation in Venezuela this year but saved his strongest words for Iran, declaring that its reign as the “the bully of the Middle East” was over.

“I have a big decision to make,” he said. “Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before, maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world. Or do I annihilate the Islamic republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?”

He added, “Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness or generations?”

In remarks that opened with Mr. Trump heralding his own domestic policies, the president alternately trumpeted his own power and lashed out at nations and institutions he held up as objects of scorn.

“To the victor belong the spoils,” Mr. Trump said of his military operation in Venezuela, where the United States expanded access and control over that country’s vast oil reserves. He promised that Cuba’s government would fall, saying the United States could not allow “a haven for foreign adversaries” on its doorstep. Mr. Trump called the International Criminal Court, the president of which his administration has imposed sanctions on, a “rogue institution.” And he claimed credit for ending the war in Gaza, even as humanitarian conditions there remain dire and a plan to disarm Hamas and withdraw Israeli troops has been stalled for months.

He also reiterated his labeling of climate change as a “hoax” and said the United States would reject “any attempt to construct a globalist scheme to control for the artificial intelligence” — a technology whose rapid growth has alarmed even some of its most prominent developers.

António Guterres, delivering his final address to the assembled world leaders as U.N. secretary general, opened the gathering by warning that “the fault lines in our world are widening.” He reminded world leaders that they must step up and collaborate to confront the many challenges the world is facing, even as the U.N. faces questions of relevance.

The multiday General Assembly sessions will examine a wide variety of topics, including climate change, threats posed by A.I., the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, and a possible two-state solution for Israel and Palestinians.

Here’s what else to expect:

Notable speeches: Among the most closely watched addresses will be that of Emmanuel Macron of France, who is in the final year of his presidency. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey and Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the emir of Qatar, are also expected to speak.

Trump meetings: The president will meet with a string of global leaders on the sidelines of the gathering Tuesday, including Prime Minister Andy Burnham of Britain, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi of Japan and President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine. According to the White House, Mr. Trump will also sign a security agreement on Greenland’s future and attend a session with Persian Gulf leaders.

Ukraine: 

European foreign ministers will also meet to discuss the war and food security ahead of Mr. Zelensky’s speech on Wednesday.

Middle East: 

France, Britain and Canada will host a meeting on a two-state solution for Israel and Palestinians, a smaller, more low-key follow-up on last year’s spotlight conference on the issue.

U.N. leadership search: 

The global body is searching for its next leader, who will take the helm in January after Mr. Guterres steps down in December. Seven candidates are vying for the role, but no clear front-runner has emerged, diplomats said.

Absent leaders: 

A notable number of world leaders will not attend the General Assembly. One is Xi Jinping, China’s leader, who is scheduled to travel to Washington to see Mr. Trump on Thursday, and their meeting is expected to overshadow the speeches at the Assembly. India’s prime minister, Narendra Modi, and South Africa’s president, Cyril Ramaphosa, will also not attend.

War Crime

U.S. strike on a wedding party in Kuhestak, UN has evident for US warcrime

An aerial view of funeral and burial ceremonies for victims of an alleged U.S. strike on a wedding party in Kuhestak, southern Iran, on Sept. 3, 2026. Iranian officials said four people, including a child, were killed and 68 injured in the strike.Morteza Akhondi—Getty Images