Summary US President Donald Trump says he has been “unwavering” on never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon.
NEW YORK (Web Desk) – US President Donald Trump says Iran refused to agree to cease its nuclear programme, despite negotiations dating back to him taking office last January.
“They were the bully of the Middle East, but they are the bully no more,” Trump said in his address to the UN General Assembly, recalling that he has been “unwavering” on never allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon.
“Upon taking office last year, I immediately opened negotiations with Iran and offered them full economic cooperation, in exchange for ending their nuclear programme and support for terror, but they refused … it was a big mistake,” he added.
Trump noted that Iran again refused to come to an agreement following US-Israeli strikes on nuclear facilities in the country in the summer of 2025, and that Tehran built a “vast” missile and drone stockpile, as well as pursuing the creation of nuclear weapons behind a “conventional ballistic missile shield”.
Trump said he has two options for dealing with Iran: making a deal or driving “them into hell”.
“I have a big decision to make. Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before … or do I anihilate the Islamic republic, and do it quickly?” Trump says.
“Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness or generations? But I believe we’ll make a deal after the election, because it doesn’t make sense for them not to,” he claims, adding that Tehran is waiting to “see how I do” in the election.
Nearly 130 world leaders are gathering for the UN General Assembly in New York to discuss pressing concerns including the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East and the risks of rapid AI development.
This is a developing story
