MANHATTAN, New York – US President Donald Trump has warned that he faces a “big decision” over Iran, saying the choice is between reaching a deal with Tehran or taking further military action against the Islamic Republic.
Addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday (Sept.22), Trump sharply criticized Iran and defended the US military campaign against the country.
He described Iran as “the number one sponsor of terror” and accused its government of spending decades spreading instability and violence across the Middle East.
“For 51 years, the fanatical Iranian regime has ruled by bloodshed and mass murder, spreading death and carnage and chaos across the entire Middle East and beyond,” Trump said. “They were the bully of the Middle East, but they are the bully no more.”
Trump said that after returning to office, his administration opened negotiations with Tehran, offering what he described as “full economic cooperation in exchange for ending their nuclear program and support for terror.”
“But they refused,” he said. “They absolutely refused.”
The US President said the failure of those negotiations led to military action, with the United States supported by Israel.
Trump also defended the operation, saying his administration's objective was to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon.
The conflict has had consequences well beyond the Middle East, particularly through disruptions involving the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important routes for global energy shipments.
The waterway has become a major pressure point in the conflict, with disruptions to commercial shipping contributing to concerns over oil supplies and prices. Iran has also indicated that it could reopen the Strait within a week if the United States reduces military pressure and lifts its blockade on Iranian ports, according to media reports
Trump told the General Assembly that the United States Navy has escorted more than one billion barrels of oil through the Strait and said oil shipments are now moving at higher levels than earlier in the conflict.
He also claimed that the US campaign has severely weakened Iran's military capabilities, including its navy, radar systems, air defenses, missiles and drone manufacturing capacity.
He praised the UN Security Council for condemning attacks on commercial shipping and called for continued international pressure on Tehran.
Trump then presented what he described as the central decision facing his administration.
He then offered the alternative: “Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?”
Trump has continued to insist that Iran must not be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon. His remarks came as Tehran signaled that it remains open to negotiations under certain conditions.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said Tuesday that Washington is open to discussions with Iranian representatives at the UN, although no meeting had been scheduled at the time.
Reuters reported that Trump said he expects a potential deal with Iran after the November US midterm elections, while continuing to call for economic pressure on Tehran.
For now, the conflict remains unresolved, with diplomacy and the threat of further military escalation unfolding alongside growing concerns over energy supplies and international shipping.
