Trump addresses UN General Assembly amid looming Iran war

On the morning of September 22, 2026, President Donald Trump stepped onto the marble dais of the United Nations Secretariat in New York to address the 81st General Assembly. The event came at a time when the United States is in the middle of a conflict with Iran that began on February 28, 2026, and has stretched into its eighth month. The war has rattled global oil markets, tightened shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz and the Bab al‑Mandeb, and drawn the attention of a host of world leaders.

Trump’s arrival in New York was preceded by a brief meeting with Mayor Zohran Mamdani at Gracie Mansion the day before.

Media additions

President Trump to address the UN General Assembly on wars, energy, economy

The 81st General Assembly opened with a general debate that will feature speeches from UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, French President Emmanuel Macron, and others.

According to U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, Trump is set to meet with Gulf leaders on Tuesday. Waltz told CNN’s “State of the Union” that the president “truly values hearing from them and hearing their concerns.” The Gulf states, which have seen their economies strained by the war’s impact on shipping routes and oil prices, will discuss freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, the Bab al‑Mandeb, and other key chokepoints that have seen attacks on cargo vessels.

Trump is also scheduled to meet with Venezuelan interim president Delcy Rodríguez, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Japanese prime minister Sanae Takaichi. The meetings are described as “pull‑aside” sessions that will take place on the sidelines of the General Assembly. In a separate briefing, the White House confirmed that Trump would sign a recently announced security deal with the prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland in a ceremony in New York.

During the General Assembly, Trump is expected to reiterate his administration’s stance on the war in Iran. He has repeatedly said the conflict would last “four to six weeks” and that the United States will use its “unparalleled military might” if necessary.

“We will use our unparalleled military might to secure our interests.”

Trump, via DW News

He also hinted at a diplomatic opening, saying he would “make a deal right after the (mid‑term) election.”

I believe we will make a deal right after the (mid‑term) election.

Trump, via BBC Live

The timing of any concession would line up with the November mid‑term elections, a move that could reshape the domestic political landscape.

Trump’s speech will likely include a defense of his 20‑point peace plan for Gaza, a program that has faced criticism for its lack of progress. U.S. Officials said the president would highlight the importance of ensuring that Iran never has a nuclear weapon and would recap U.S. Accomplishments in the Western Hemisphere.

Against this backdrop, the United Nations itself has been a focal point of Trump’s criticism. Secretary‑General Antonio Guterres warned of “the specter of ethnic cleansing” in the West Bank and called for a “world built on interdependence.” He also said the death and destruction in Gaza is unlike anything he has seen during his time as the UN’s head.

In the weeks leading up to the assembly, the UN released a report finding “reasonable grounds” that the United States carried out two strikes in Iran that resulted in civilian casualties. The attacks on a girls’ school and a sports centre were described as “reasonable grounds to believe that the United States committed the war crime of launching an indiscriminate attack resulting in loss of life or injury to civilians.” A State Department official rejected the findings, saying the report “does not give credibility” to its conclusions. The official added that the Trump Administration had formally withdrawn from the UN Human Rights Council after the Council’s “consistent failures to uphold its own ‘values’.”

Other leaders attending the General Assembly will include British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who is expected to emphasize the UK’s role as a “middle‑sized power” and the importance of supplying Kyiv with air‑defence missiles. French President Emmanuel Macron will also speak, as will Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The assembly’s opening address will also feature a speech from Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who criticised the UN’s credibility and called for the Venezuelan people to define their future.

Security concerns are high. Thousands of NYPD officers and specialized units have been deployed around U.N. Headquarters, and road closures are expected throughout the week. Portions of the FDR Drive may be affected as world leaders travel to and from events.

The presence of the Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian at the assembly—though no meeting between the two leaders has been confirmed—adds a layer of uncertainty.