President Donald Trump said in a speech to world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly that he was considering “wiping out” Iran and taking the country “to hell.” Or, he said, Iran could reach a deal with the United States that would allow the nation to rebuild. But that won’t happen until after the midterm elections in November, Trump predicted. “I think we’ll make a deal right after the election because it doesn’t make sense for them not to,” Trump said. “They are waiting to see how I do in the midterm elections.” Trump has publicly launched new attacks on Iran, including previously threatening to kill all of civilization. On Tuesday, he revived that warning on one of the most prominent platforms for world leaders, with an Iranian delegation in the audience. Follow live coverage“I have a big decision to make,” he said. “Will I reach a deal with Iran that allows them to rebuild and create a country much larger than it ever was, perhaps one of the largest in the Middle East or even the world? Or will I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them the opportunity to kill and destroy people and countries again?” “Will I take them to hell with no chance of survival and no hope of greatness or future generations?” “The most important thing,” Trump said to applause, is to ensure that “Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.” Iran’s nuclear potential was “the reality we had to face,” he argued, and “a reality that many preferred to ignore.” Trump also highlighted peace agreements he has worked on, U.S. actions in the Western Hemisphere, and progress on Trump’s 20-point Gaza peace plan. “Reasonable grounds to believe” that the United States had committed war crimes during “attacks.” attacks” against an Iranian school and residential area in February. The American president traditionally addresses the General Assembly each year. In 2025, Trump spoke for nearly an hour, criticizing climate change and European immigration policies. But what grabbed the headlines were mishaps before and during his appearance at the UN, when the escalator carrying Trump and first lady Melania Trump abruptly stopped and then the teleprompter with Trump’s speech broke at the beginning of his comments and was forced to improvise. Trump at the time blamed the world body, hinting at intentional sabotage to humiliate him, while UN officials said the White House cameraman “may have inadvertently activated the security feature” at the escalator headquarters in New York City on Monday. Leonardo Munoz/AFP via Getty Images Trump is expected to meet with several world leaders this week on the sidelines of the UN meeting, including the acting president of the UN. Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez It will be Rodríguez’s first meeting with Trump since the United States captured then-Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who are in a Brooklyn jail awaiting trial. Trump is also expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has said the meeting “could change a lot,” adding that there is “a diplomatic push” in an attempt to reach an energy truce with the Kremlin Last week, Trump signed into law. a Russia sanctions bill championed by the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. He also announced that the United States would take charge of military operations and have “permanent control over security” in Greenland, in an agreement expected to be signed Tuesday with the leaders of Greenland and Denmark to try to end the tense standoff over the strategic Arctic territory. Gulf Cooperation Council, which includes Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Senior US officials said Iran will be a key topic of discussion at this year’s assembly. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is scheduled to address the UN on Wednesday. Trump told Fox News he would “probably” be willing to meet with Pezeshkian, but did not announce any details.
