New York — During the United Nations General Assembly, President Donald Trump posed a question regarding the future of Iran, asking, "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?" He followed this by stating, "Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?" This statement served as an ultimatum to Iran regarding negotiations. Trump had previously expressed similar sentiments on social media, raising concerns about potential war crimes.
In a 38-minute address, Trump emphasized the need for economic isolation of Iran until it ceases its attacks on commercial shipping, relinquishes its nuclear ambitions, and stops supporting terrorism. He called on all nations to join in this effort, stating, "If we stand united, we will soon see a world free of the last 51-year menace of Iranian terror."
Trump also mentioned a three-hour meeting between U.S. and Iranian officials, attended by envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff, describing it as a "very good" meeting, though it was unclear if he participated due to his schedule.
The address began with domestic issues, including crime rates and economic investments, before transitioning to international challenges. Trump predicted that Iran would seek a deal after the midterm elections, asserting that he was not concerned about the war's impact on his approval ratings. A recent Reuters/Ipsos poll indicated that 34% of respondents approved of actions against Iran, with Republican support for the war declining from 73% in March to 60%.
Trump also criticized the U.N. Human Rights Council and addressed issues related to Venezuela and Cuba, stating, "We’ll not allow a haven for foreign adversaries to threaten America on our own doorstep." When he mentioned efforts to curb Cuban influence, representatives from Cuba left the General Assembly Hall.
Towards the end of his speech, Trump introduced the term "super intelligence" for artificial intelligence, stating that all federal documents would adopt this terminology and emphasizing the need for oversight by the Department of Justice. The president delivered his address during the morning session of the General Assembly's first official day, with several key officials and family members present.