Trump warns in UN speech he could annihilate Iran without peace deal

On Tuesday, 22 September 2026, President Donald Trump delivered a sharply combative address to the United Nations General Assembly that re‑affirmed his administration’s hard‑line stance against Iran and signalled a potential escalation of the war that began in February. In his speech he warned that if a peace deal was not reached after the November 3 mid‑term elections, the United States could “annihilate” the Islamic Republic.

In a 37‑minute speech, he warned that if a peace deal was not reached after the November 3 mid‑term elections, the United States could “annihilate” the Islamic Republic, a threat that has drawn worldwide alarm. The speech also served as a platform for Trump to press his case on a range of other issues, from artificial intelligence to the status of Greenland, and to outline a schedule of high‑profile meetings with heads of state that will shape the next weeks of global diplomacy.

Media additions

'Big decision to make': Trump warns he could 'annihilate' Iran without peace deal | Khaleej Times

Trump opened by celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, then pivoted quickly to the war with Iran. He framed the conflict as a necessary deterrent that prevented Tehran from developing a nuclear weapon, a claim that Iran repeatedly rejects. The president described the war as having “defanged” Iran militarily, forced the country to the brink of economic collapse, and positioned the United States as the sole bulwark against a regional threat.

Central to the address was a stark ultimatum: if Iran did not agree to a peace deal after the mid‑term elections, the United States could “annihilate” the Islamic Republic. Trump reiterated his belief that a settlement would be reached once the election results were known, arguing that Tehran has no strategic reason to resist. He called on other nations to join the United States in tightening economic sanctions, thereby forcing Iran to the negotiating table.

He rejected proposals to regulate artificial intelligence, insisting that the United States should lead the development of what he termed “super intelligence.” He also defended the United Nations, accusing the organisation and other international bodies of advancing a left‑wing agenda that encroaches on American sovereignty. Trump’s remarks were accompanied by a pointed critique of the International Criminal Court, which he said would have no jurisdiction over U.S. Military personnel.

During the same speech, Trump defended his administration’s actions in Latin America. He cited the raid that removed former Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro from the country, and the oil deal he struck with the interim Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodríguez. He also accused Mexico of being effectively controlled by cartels and called on the Mexican government to reclaim control of its territory.

Meanwhile, Trump’s remarks on Cuba were brief but sharp. He described the regime as an “absolutely failed state” under intense pressure, a statement that was met with an abrupt walk‑out from the Cuban delegation in the audience.

Following the address, the president’s diplomatic itinerary was announced. Trump was slated to meet with a dozen world leaders, including British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Venezuelan interim leader Delcy Rodríguez, and the monarchs of the Gulf states: the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar. He was also scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland’s Prime Minister Jens‑Frederik Nielsen, during which he would sign an agreement granting the United States permanent security control over Greenland and the construction of two major military bases. The president’s agenda reflects his focus on foreign affairs during his second term, a period marked by multiple conflicts and a reshaping of traditional alliances.

As the United Nations day progressed, the president’s remarks were followed by a series of bilateral meetings. In the early afternoon, Trump met with the leaders of the Gulf states, a gathering that drew attention to the Houthi insurgency in Yemen and the threat posed to shipping through the Bab el‑Mandab Strait. Later that day, he met with the Danish and Greenlandic leaders to formalise the Greenland agreement.

The president has repeatedly said that a peace deal with Iran is inevitable after the elections.

Meanwhile, the United States’ approval rating has fallen to an all‑time low, a trend that could influence the administration’s ability to push through its foreign policy agenda.