Speaking before the United Nations General Assembly, Donald Trump outlined two contrasting paths regarding Iran: one involving reconstruction assistance and the other involving the destruction of its government. Addressing the assembly in New York on Tuesday, Trump described a pending choice over whether to pursue an agreement with Iran that would allow the country to rebuild and potentially develop into one of the more prosperous nations in the region or beyond.
Trump raised the question of whether military force should be used against Iran, framing the choice as one between taking action or permitting ongoing harm to people and countries. He expressed optimism that an agreement could be reached, while also asserting that Iranian officials were monitoring his performance in the November midterm elections to inform their position. He stated that those around him were unaware he had no intention of running, adding that he placed no weight on the election with respect to Iran and would continue to do so.
Trump stated that Iran acquiring a nuclear weapon was not something he contemplated, adding that his sole focus was ensuring the country would never obtain one, a remark that drew applause from delegates present in the room.
During his address, Trump referenced two upcoming commemorations — the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, which had occurred a fortnight prior, and the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks, due to be observed within the following two weeks. During a visit to Israel, Trump described the October 7 attack as an act of terror carried out by Iran-backed perpetrators who killed approximately 1,200 people, among them dozens of Americans and infants, and added that Iran's supreme leader had publicly praised the assault as a contribution to humanity.
Reports indicate that the Iranian government was responsible for approximately 72,000 civilian deaths over the course of the year, with around 10,000 fatalities recorded among those who had taken part in protests. Analysts have raised concerns about the potential consequences should such a government acquire nuclear capabilities while conducting large-scale attacks.
Trump described the situation as an unavoidable reality that many had chosen to overlook, characterising Iran as the leading state sponsor of terrorism and a threat that had been allowed to expand without adequate constraint. He additionally contended that the Iranian government had ruled through violence and destabilisation across the Middle East and surrounding regions throughout its 51 years in power, and that Iran had previously held a position of dominance in the area, though he asserted that was no longer the case.
Trump asserted that he had held a long-standing position against allowing Iran to develop nuclear weapons, and that Operation Midnight Hammer, carried out the previous June, had been directed at dismantling Iran's nuclear programme to remove what he characterised as a deeply concerning threat. He also claimed that Operation Epic Fury had resulted in the destruction of all 159 vessels in Iran's naval fleet.
He claimed the nation's air force, radar infrastructure, air defence networks, and missile and drone manufacturing capacity had been substantially degraded or neutralised, that the broader economy had deteriorated sharply, and that inflation — the one condition yet to be brought under control — was now reported at above 300 per cent, continuing to weigh on living standards throughout the country.
Reports emerged that Iran had proposed reopening the Strait of Hormuz to civilian vessels within a week, contingent on the removal of a naval blockade on its ports, as Trump delivered his address.
Trump called on all countries to join a coordinated sanctions effort against Iran, outlining conditions that included a halt to attacks on shipping, the dismantling of its nuclear programme, and an end to support for armed factions, while separately characterising Iran's behaviour as reflecting a position of weakness. Trump declared that unity would bring an end to what he described as five decades of Iranian-sponsored terrorism.
Nearly all delegates from Iran's UN delegation vacated the hall during his address, with a single representative remaining seated. Hundreds of protesters calling for greater US action toward Iran's government rallied near the UN headquarters while Trump addressed the assembly.
