Iran Walks Out of UNGA After Trump’s ‘Annihilate’ Threat
Iranian officials walked out of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday after United States President Donald Trump threatened to “annihilate” the country if it fails to reach a deal with Washington.
The walkout came about 10 minutes into Trump’s address to the 81st UN General Assembly in New York, where he defended the US military campaign against Iran and warned that the conflict could escalate if Tehran refuses to reach an agreement.
Trump told world leaders that he faced a choice between allowing Iran to rebuild through a negotiated settlement or destroying the Islamic Republic.
“I have a big decision to make,” he said.
Trump asked whether a deal could allow Iran to rebuild and become “one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world”, or whether the United States should “annihilate the Islamic Republic.”
He added that he could “drive them into hell with no chance of survival” if no agreement was reached.
Despite the threat, Trump said he believed a deal with Iran was possible, predicting that an agreement could come after the November US midterm elections.
“I believe we’ll make a deal right after the election,” he said.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were in New York for the UN gathering but were not inside the General Assembly Hall during Trump’s speech.
Trump devoted much of his roughly 37-minute address to his administration’s foreign policy and military actions, arguing that the campaign against Iran was necessary to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
He also called on other countries to isolate Iran economically while presenting US military power as a major factor in changing the balance of power in the region. (Reuters)
Trump later turned his attention to Cuba, describing its government as a failed state and predicting that its political system would fall.
The Cuban delegation also walked out of the General Assembly during his remarks.
Trump’s confrontational address contrasted with calls for diplomacy from Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who spoke shortly before him.
Lula said the wars and rising tensions confronting the world could not be resolved through military force alone.
“We all know there will be no winners on the battlefield,” he said, adding that diplomacy was the only option.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres also urged countries to strengthen international cooperation, warning that military power alone could not guarantee peace.
Trump’s speech extended beyond Iran and Cuba to other major international disputes, including Gaza, Ukraine, Venezuela and the International Criminal Court.
The Gaza conflict also featured prominently in speeches by other world leaders. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sharply criticised Israel, while Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani described the situation in Gaza as “a genocide in every sense of the word.”
Trump’s UN appearance came amid the continuing US-Iran conflict and concerns over its wider economic impact, particularly disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz and elevated energy prices.
Iran has separately indicated that it could reopen the strategic waterway if Washington eases military pressure and lifts its blockade of Iranian ports, adding another layer to the diplomatic efforts surrounding the conflict.
The UN General Assembly brings together representatives of member states each year to debate international security, conflicts, development and other global issues.
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