US President Donald Trump has warned Iran that it must reach an agreement with Washington or face what he described as the “annihilation” of the Islamic Republic. Trump made the remarks while addressing world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. His speech focused on Iran, Ukraine, artificial intelligence and the role of the United Nations. On Iran, Trump presented negotiations as an alternative to overwhelming military action. He said the United States remained prepared to reach a deal that would allow Iran to rebuild, while warning of s

US President Donald Trump has warned Iran that it must reach an agreement with Washington or face what he described as the “annihilation” of the Islamic Republic. Trump made the remarks while addressing world leaders at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. His speech focused on Iran, Ukraine, artificial intelligence and the role of the United Nations. On Iran, Trump presented negotiations as an alternative to overwhelming military action. He said the United States remained prepared to reach a deal that would allow Iran to rebuild, while warning of severe consequences if an agreement was not reached. His comments were described by BBC Persian correspondent Khashayar Joneidi as an example of coercive diplomacy, keeping negotiations open while using the threat of force to pressure the other side. Trump also addressed the war in Ukraine, saying Russia and Ukraine were close to reaching a negotiated settlement. He said the United States was working closely with both sides and expressed confidence that an agreement could be reached. However, Russia and Ukraine continue to exchange missile and drone attacks, while previous predictions of an imminent ceasefire have not materialised. Artificial intelligence was another major theme. Trump rejected calls for international supervision of AI and suggested replacing the term “artificial intelligence” with “super intelligence”, or “SI”. He argued that the word “artificial” makes the technology sound fake, despite its growing importance. His position contrasts with that of UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who called for common global principles and standards to address AI risks. Trump also criticised the United Nations while continuing to engage with the organisation on international security and diplomatic issues.

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