NEW YORK: US President Donald Trump threatened to annihilate Iran without a deal to end the war. He spoke on September 22, 2026, while mediators pursued peace talks with Iran at the United Nations (UN).
Addressing the General Assembly, Trump presented a choice between an agreement allowing Iran to rebuild and further military escalation. He threatened to “annihilate the Islamic Republic” if negotiations failed.
Iran’s armed forces dismissed his remarks as propaganda. They warned that they were ready to launch more severe and unpredictable attacks, according to Reuters.
US envoy Steve Witkoff wrote on X that mediators had shuttled between American and Iranian representatives throughout the day. He described lengthy discussions and said he hoped they would prove productive. The mediators would continue their work.
Trump at the UN: "As president of the most extraordinary nation in history, I have no interest in leaving dangers to grow for another day. While others have talked, I have acted. Iran was the bully of the Middle East. But they are the bully no more." pic.twitter.com/eAK0mVFd59
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) September 22, 2026A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz to Gulf shipping within seven days. That offer depended on Washington easing military pressure and lifting its blockade of Iranian ports. Tehran had submitted its proposal through intermediaries.
Trump also met with Middle Eastern leaders to restore shipping through the strait. He suggested the conflict could end shortly after the US midterm elections on November 3, 2026, or possibly earlier.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani in New York. Qatar News Agency confirmed the meeting.
VIDEO | Trump threatens to 'annihilate' Iran during UN address
US President Donald Trump said that he faces a choice between reaching a deal with Iran and "annihilat[ing] the Islamic Republic," during his address to the UN General Assembly in New York.
"I have a big decision to… pic.twitter.com/1mSX96wm7U
— The Cradle (@TheCradleMedia) September 22, 2026Reuters reported that Qatar had proposed a shared security framework involving Iran and Arab Gulf states. One source indicated that Tehran was reviewing it. Al Thani said any arrangement needed security guarantees for Gulf countries and stronger economic ties with Iran.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf maintained that his country would never surrender or accept Washington imposing its will.
Read: Iran Hormuz Reopening Offer Sets Seven-Day Timeline
The war began nearly seven months ago with joint US-Israeli strikes and has spread across the region. In Yemen, Iran-aligned Houthi advances have threatened Saudi-backed forces and Saudi oil exports through the Red Sea.
The New York Times reported that Trump cancelled planned US strikes against the Houthis on September 20, 2026. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reaffirmed support for Saudi Arabia but described the conflict as dangerous and complex.
Separately, sources told Reuters that Saudi Arabia had restarted its East-West Pipeline. They expected reduced-volume exports from Yanbu to resume within hours. The pipeline provides an export route that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.
