US President Donald Trump has threatened Iran with severe consequences while revealing that American and Iranian officials have resumed discussions on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Trump made the comments during his address to the UN General Assembly, where he said he was faced with a major decision over whether to pursue a deal with Tehran or take further military action.
“I have a big decision to make — will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country?” 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?”
Despite the threats, Trump later disclosed that representatives of the two countries had held several hours of discussions in New York.
Trump said US special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner took part in a three-hour meeting involving the Iranian delegation. Witkoff later said mediators had moved between the two sides throughout the day.
“They had a very good meeting, a very productive meeting — they have another one scheduled in the very near future,” Trump told reporters.
Witkoff also described the discussions as constructive and said mediators would continue working between Washington and Tehran.
Iran has reportedly linked progress in the talks to conditions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, a strategically important waterway. Iranian officials have said the country could consider reopening the strait if the US reduces military pressure and lifts its blockade.
The latest discussions are taking place after months of conflict and stalled negotiations between the two countries. Trump has repeatedly said that Iran must not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, while Tehran has maintained its own conditions for ending the hostilities.
Trump also said he believed there was growing momentum towards an agreement with Iran and suggested that a settlement could eventually be reached.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is in New York for the UN General Assembly and is scheduled to address the gathering. However, reports indicate that he does not currently plan to meet Trump directly.
The US-Iran discussions were among several major diplomatic engagements taking place during the UN gathering, with the war involving Iran and the wider regional consequences remaining major issues for world leaders.
Trump also met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in New York as he continued efforts to address Russia’s war in Ukraine. Zelensky has said Ukraine is prepared to halt strikes on Russian energy facilities if Moscow takes a similar step.
Meanwhile, Trump also signed a security agreement involving the United States, Denmark and Greenland, expanding planned US military cooperation on the Arctic island. The agreement comes after Trump’s previous calls for greater US control over Greenland had raised concerns among traditional US allies.
Source: AFP
