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President Donald Trump used his address to the United Nations General Assembly to frame a binary choice for Iran as the conflict between the two nations nears the seven-month mark, a CBS News report indicated. He described a looming decision over whether to pursue a comprehensive deal or take more decisive military steps, according to coverage by The New York Times. The president positioned his approach as one of action where predecessors had only offered words, drawing from a White House summary of the remarks.
Trump told the gathered world leaders that Iran had rejected diplomatic overtures, prompting joint military operations with Israel that began in February, Responsible Statecraft reported. He argued that these steps had prevented Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon while isolating the regime economically, a Reuters dispatch from the event noted. The speech lasted approximately 35 minutes and touched on how the current Iranian leadership had grown desperate rather than strong, multiple outlets covering the session confirmed.
In a direct quote carried across reports from The New York Times and CBS News, Trump asked, “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? Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness or generations?” He added that he expected an agreement to emerge after the November midterm elections because it would no longer make sense for Iran to delay, according to an Antiwar.com summary of the address.
Trump later told reporters that his envoys had conducted a very productive three-hour meeting with Iranian representatives on the sidelines of the assembly, the BBC reported. The discussions involved US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner meeting through mediators with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, a CBS News account stated. Iran state television acknowledged the contact although Tehran offered no immediate comment on any outcomes, according to the BBC.
Most members of the Iranian delegation walked out as Trump spoke, leaving only one official in the hall, Euronews reported from the scene. Iranian officials have continued to insist on core demands that include lifting US sanctions, releasing frozen assets and addressing Israel’s actions in Lebanon before any settlement, an Antiwar.com analysis found. The talks marked the first confirmed direct engagement since the conflict escalated in late February, Responsible Statecraft noted.
Trump has repeatedly cast the military campaign as essential to curbing Iran’s role as the leading state sponsor of terrorism, a Jewish Telegraphic Agency review of the speech said. He referenced past attacks funded by Tehran, including the October 7, 2023 assault on Israel and its celebration by Iranian leaders, according to the White House transcript. The president also used portions of the address to highlight US moves in Venezuela and a new security pact involving Greenland, The New York Times reported.
