Trump Presents Deal-or-Annihilation Choice for Iran at U.N. Address
The president called for renewed negotiations and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz while describing possible military escalation against Iran.
President Donald Trump presented a choice between reaching a deal with Iran and annihilating the Islamic Republic during his Sept. 22 address to the United Nations General Assembly, raising the stakes for diplomatic efforts.
“I have a big decision to make,” Trump said, describing an agreement that would allow Iran to rebuild as the alternative to acting quickly to “annihilate the Islamic Republic.”
Trump also called on Iran to return to negotiations and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a major energy shipping route. His remarks intensified the language surrounding the U.S.-Iran conflict and could weigh on confidence in a diplomatic resolution.
The speech did not explicitly state that the threat would apply only if negotiations failed.
