- Iran Delegation Walks Out of UN Assembly After Trump’s ‘Annihilation’ Threa
Iran’s delegation walked out of the United Nations General Assembly during US President Donald Trump’s address after he warned that he could “annihilate” the Islamic Republic if Tehran fails to reach a deal with Washington.
Trump issued the warning on Tuesday, September 22, during his address to the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York.
The US president, while defending his administration’s military campaign against Iran, presented Tehran with what he described as a choice between reaching a deal that would allow the country to rebuild or facing further US military action.
“Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly,” Trump said during the speech.
Most members of the Iranian delegation subsequently left the General Assembly chamber as Trump continued his criticism of Tehran.
However, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were not in the hall when the walkout occurred.
Trump defends military campaign
Trump used much of his speech to defend the US military campaign against Iran, arguing that Washington had acted to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
He claimed that US military operations had severely damaged Iran’s naval, air and missile capabilities and accused Tehran of continuing activities that he said threatened regional and international security. These assertions were part of Trump’s account of the conflict and were not independently established in the reports reviewed.
Trump also called on other countries to increase economic pressure on Iran and said he expected a possible agreement with Tehran after the US midterm elections.
US, Iran hold talks
Despite the hostile rhetoric at the General Assembly, Trump later disclosed that American and Iranian representatives had met on the sidelines of the UN meeting.
He described the discussions as a “very good meeting”, although details of what was discussed and whether the talks could lead to a wider agreement were not immediately disclosed.
The meeting represents a notable development because Washington and Tehran have remained locked in conflict since the war began in February, while intermittent diplomatic efforts have continued.
Earlier, the Trump administration had agreed to allow a core Iranian delegation, including Pezeshkian and Araghchi, to attend the UN General Assembly despite the ongoing conflict between the two countries.
Tensions remain high
The walkout underscored the deep tensions between Washington and Tehran as world leaders gathered in New York.
Trump has continued to insist that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon, while Tehran has rejected US pressure and maintained its own position in the conflict.
With direct talks now reported alongside Trump’s threat of further military action, attention is turning to whether the diplomatic contacts can produce an agreement capable of ending the conflict.
For now, however, the two countries remain deeply divided over Iran’s nuclear programme, military capabilities and the future of the conflict.
