Trump threatens Iran 'annihilation' at UN; envoys hold three-hour talks

US President Donald Trump used his address to the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 22 to warn Iran that he could "annihilate the Islamic Republic" if no peace deal is reached to end the ongoing conflict. Trump stated he had "a big decision to make" — either striking a deal with Iran or annihilating it "quickly." He called on other nations to join America in isolating Iran economically and predicted his administration would reach a deal following the November 3 US midterm elections. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump remained open to meeting with Iranian officials, though no formal meeting was scheduled.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian delivered a rare wartime address to the UN General Assembly on September 23, one day after Trump's speech. Pezeshkian said Iranians had been "victims of terrorism" by the United States and Israel, showing photos of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and more than 150 schoolchildren killed in the war's opening days. He declared "we have only defended ourselves" and are "not terrorists," and stated Iran would "never bow our head or bend at the knee." Pezeshkian said Iran was ready for "dialog and diplomacy and negotiations without accepting the language of force." The Iranian delegation had walked out of Trump's speech within 10 minutes.

Despite the hostile rhetoric, US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held approximately three hours of talks with Iranian officials on the sidelines of the UN meeting on September 22 — the first direct contact since a June ceasefire collapsed. Trump said the meeting was "very good," though he noted the Iranian officials were "not the highest level." Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei downplayed the talks, saying they were indirect exchanges through Qatari mediators and represented "not anything new." Tehran reiterated its demands that Washington end its blockade of Iranian ports and release frozen Iranian assets.

The White House responded to Pezeshkian's speech by stating that Trump is "courageously" fighting against the Iranian regime, citing alleged acts of terrorism and nuclear ambitions. The statement accused Iran of murdering thousands of its own people, killing Americans overseas, and launching indiscriminate attacks against regional neighbors. Separately, a commercial vessel was struck in an attack in the Strait of Hormuz on September 23, killing one crew member and forcing evacuation of more than 20 sailors, according to the Omani navy. Canada imposed new sanctions on Iranian officials and entities, and the UAE central bank sanctioned branches of Iran's Bank Melli.

The war between the US-backed coalition and Iran has now lasted nearly seven months. Intermittent attacks have continued in the Strait of Hormuz, where commercial shipping remains below prewar levels. Pezeshkian's appearance in New York under heavy security highlighted the rare situation of a foreign leader addressing the UN General Assembly while his country remains at war with the host nation.