UNITED NATIONS: US President Donald Trump warned Tuesday that he could “annihilate” Iran if Tehran does not reach a peace agreement with Washington, while saying he believes a deal could be reached after the U.S. midterm elections.
Addressing the U.N. General Assembly, Trump said he faced a major decision over whether to allow Iran to rebuild or destroy the Islamic Republic to prevent it from threatening other countries.
Trump said his primary objective was to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons. He accused Tehran of supporting terrorism and said Iran had previously sought to exert influence across the Middle East.
The U.S. president said he believed Iran was waiting to see the outcome of the Nov. 3 U.S. midterm elections before deciding whether to reach an agreement with Washington. He said he expected a deal could be reached after the elections.
Trump also defended his administration’s actions against Iran and argued that the conflict had prevented Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. His remarks came as the war with Iran remained a central issue at the U.N. gathering.
He said the United States was stronger than in the past and highlighted what he described as gains in the economy, border security and crime reduction.
Trump also criticized international institutions, including the International Criminal Court, saying the United States would not accept international jurisdiction over its citizens or military personnel. He called on countries that are members of the ICC to withdraw from the court.
The president also referred to the conflict between Pakistan and India, citing his administration’s role in efforts to end the fighting.
Trump’s speech came amid continuing diplomatic efforts surrounding the Iran conflict. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that Washington was open to discussions with Iranian representatives at the U.N., although no meeting had been scheduled.