Trump Says Iran War Was Necessary to Confront Nuclear Threat in Address to UNGA/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ President Donald Trump defended his decision to launch the Iran war during an address to world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly. Trump accused Tehran of delaying negotiations until after the U.S. midterm elections, prompting most of Iran’s delegation to leave the chamber. His diplomatic agenda also included meetings on Ukraine and the Middle East and an agreement expanding the U.S. military presence in Greenland.
Quick Look
- Trump defended beginning the war against Iran.
- Most members of Iran’s delegation walked out during his remarks.
- Trump accused Tehran of delaying negotiations for political reasons.
- He predicted oil prices would fall sharply after the conflict ends.
- Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump was open to meeting Iran’s president.
- Trump planned meetings with leaders from Britain, Japan, Ukraine and Gulf nations.
- The president was scheduled to sign a security agreement with Denmark and Greenland.
- Trump said the United States would build two major military bases in Greenland.
- Greenland would remain under Danish sovereignty.
- Trump continued pressing Russia and Ukraine to stop attacking energy infrastructure.
Deep Look
Trump presents himself as a decisive leader
President Donald Trump used his U.N. General Assembly address Tuesday to argue that he had acted decisively on international and domestic challenges while other leaders hesitated.
Trump began by highlighting what he characterized as progress in creating private-sector jobs, reducing illegal immigration and curbing crime.
He then delivered a broad defense of his decision to begin a war against Iran, which was approaching its seventh month.
“As president of the most extraordinary nation in history,” Trump said. “I have no interest in leaving dangers to grow for another day. I do not believe in letting problems fester.”
Trump defends war against Iran
Trump portrayed Iran’s government as weakened by the military campaign and argued that international unity could end what he described as decades of Iranian-backed terrorism.
“The terrorist regime is behaving badly, not because they are strong and confident, but because they are weak and desperate,” Trump said. “If we stand united, we will soon see a world free of the last 51 year menace of Iranian terror.”
American and Israeli strikes have killed much of Iran’s senior leadership and destroyed its air force and navy. A U.S. blockade of Iranian oil has also severely damaged the country’s economy.
Trump has maintained that the military campaign is necessary to address the threat of Iran developing a nuclear weapon.
Iranian delegation walks out
Most members of Iran’s delegation left the General Assembly chamber as Trump criticized the Islamic Republic and defended American military action.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were not seated in the chamber during Trump’s address. Lower-level staff and delegates had been present before most walked out.
The departure underscored the diplomatic hostility surrounding efforts to end the conflict.
Trump accuses Iran of delaying negotiations
Trump accused Iran of waiting until after the U.S. midterm elections to reach an agreement on fully reopening the Strait of Hormuz and negotiating an end to the war.
He said the election timetable would not affect his approach.
“I gave absolutely no credence and will not give credence to the election when it comes to Iran,” Trump said. “It doesn’t even enter my mind.”
The Strait of Hormuz is a critical passage for global energy shipments. Restrictions on traffic through the waterway have contributed to higher oil prices and wider economic disruption.
Oil markets remain under pressure
The conflict has continued to unsettle international energy markets.
Saudi Arabia recently closed a major pipeline that had provided an alternative route for oil trapped in the Gulf. The kingdom acted after Iran-backed militants in Iraq attacked the pipeline.
Territorial advances by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels near the Bab al-Mandab Strait have also made the Red Sea shipping route more dangerous for oil tankers.
Trump said higher oil prices would be temporary.
“Oil prices will come plummeting down even lower than they were at the start of the conflict,” Trump said. “And they were very low in the United States. They were really low.”
Qatar calls for renewed negotiations
Qatar and other mediators have been working to bring Washington and Tehran back to negotiations.
Majed al-Ansari, the Qatari Foreign Ministry's chief spokesman, said mediators were attempting to overcome a “deep deficit of trust” between the two governments.
“Either we sign a deal now or sign a deal 10 months away,” al-Ansari said. “The only difference is the number of dead and destruction that we see.”
Rubio says Trump could meet Pezeshkian
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump was open to meeting Pezeshkian while both leaders were in New York for the General Assembly.
“This is a president that will meet with anybody for the most part, because he believes that engaging with people is important if you’re going to solve problems,” Rubio said on NBC’s “Today” show. “It doesn’t mean you’re going to end up agreeing with them, but it’s important.”
No meeting between the American and Iranian presidents had been formally announced.
Trump confronts CNN reporter
Before entering the General Assembly, Trump briefly spoke with reporters and said it was an honor to address the United Nations.
He then confronted a CNN journalist days after announcing that CNN, MS NOW and Politico would be barred from the White House over coverage he characterized as biased.
“I’m surprised that CNN is here covering me,” Trump said. “You shouldn’t be here.”
The three news organizations have sued the administration, arguing that removing their White House access violated their First Amendment and due-process rights.
Busy diplomatic schedule follows speech
Trump planned to meet British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
A less formal meeting with Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, was also planned.
Trump was scheduled to hold discussions with leaders and senior officials from the Gulf Cooperation Council countries: Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The Gulf meeting was expected to focus on the Iran war and attacks against Saudi Arabia by Iran-backed rebels.
Trump also planned to participate in a Shield of the Americas event. The initiative, launched with Latin American countries, focuses on combating violent cartels.
Iran war creates political challenges
The Iran war has become a political complication for Republicans seeking to retain control of the House and Senate in the midterm elections.
The conflict has contributed to higher energy prices, increased military spending and growing public concern about the absence of a clear endgame.
Trump nevertheless used his U.N. address to argue that American and international security had improved because of his leadership.
The speech mixed foreign-policy arguments with domestic issues such as jobs, immigration and crime, addressing world leaders while also speaking to an American political audience ahead of the elections.
US and Greenland sign military agreement
Trump was also scheduled to sign an agreement with Danish and Greenlandic leaders that would establish a path toward expanding the American military presence in Greenland.
The agreement followed repeated statements by Trump that the United States could “take over” the semiautonomous Danish territory, including by military force if necessary.
Trump said the United States would begin expanding its presence immediately, including “building two very major military bases.”
Greenland would remain part of Denmark under the agreement.
During the previous General Assembly, Trump promoted his record as a mediator and said “everyone says that I should get the Nobel Peace Prize.”
Russia-Ukraine energy attacks continue
Trump was also expected to discuss Russia’s continuing war against Ukraine during his meeting with Zelenskyy.
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump said he would resolve the conflict on the first day of his second term. The war has continued, and both countries have targeted energy infrastructure.
Ukraine has attacked Russian diesel refineries, while Russia has struck Ukraine’s power grid. The attacks have contributed to volatility in global energy markets.
Trump said Russia and Ukraine had agreed to stop attacking each other’s energy facilities. Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine would participate if Russia complied.
Russia said it would accept the proposed arrangement only if Western governments first lifted their energy sanctions. Both sides have continued conducting attacks against refineries and other infrastructure.
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