What did Donald Trump say about Iran at the United Nations General Assembly in New York?

Trump said he had to choose between making a deal with Iran or annihilating the Islamic Republic. He framed the choice as one between letting Iran rebuild or driving it into hell.

Why did Trump link a possible Iran deal to the November midterm elections?

Trump said he believed a deal could come right after the election because, in his view, it did not make sense for Iran not to wait. He said Iran was waiting to see how he does in the midterm election.

What did Trump say about his own role in the midterm election?

Trump said he was not running in the election. He added that he had already run for president and won in a landslide.

Trump says deciding between deal or driving Iran 'into hell'

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Summary

U.S. President Donald Trump told the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday that he must decide whether to reach a deal with Iran or act against it. He said an agreement could let Iran rebuild, but he also spoke of annihilating the Islamic Republic and driving it into hell. Trump said he believed a deal could come right after the November midterm elections. He linked that timing to Iran waiting to see how he performs in the election.

Key Facts

Trump delivered the remarks at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.
He said he had a big decision to make about whether a deal with Iran would let it rebuild or whether he would annihilate the Islamic Republic.
Trump said he believed an agreement could be reached right after the November midterm elections.
He said Iran was waiting to see how he does in the midterm election, and he added that he is not running.
Trump said he already ran for president and won in a landslide.

By AFP

Published Sep 23, 2026 12:08 am KST
Updated Sep 23, 2026 8:41 am KST

U.S. President Donald Trump addresses the 81st United Nations General Assembly at UN headquarters in New York City, Tuesday. Reuters-Yonhap

UNITED NATIONS — U.S. President Donald Trump told the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday that he had to choose whether to "annihilate" Iran if it fails to make a deal to end the Middle East war.

"I have a big decision to make — 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?" Trump said.

"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?"

But Trump reiterated that he thought an agreement was possible before U.S. midterm elections in November — in which his Republican party faces losing control of Congress at least partly due to high fuel prices caused by the war.

"I believe we'll make a deal right after the election because it doesn't make sense for them not to," Trump said.

"They're waiting to see how I do in the midterm election. What they don't realize is that I'm not running. I did that already, and won in a landslide."

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