Trump threatens to ‘annihilate’ Iran in UN speech as US and Iranian officials hold talks

New York, USA, September 23, 2026 — US President Donald Trump threatened to “annihilate” Iran if Tehran fails to reach a deal with Washington, even as US and Iranian officials held talks on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

Addressing the 81st session of the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, Trump said he faced a choice between reaching an agreement with Iran and destroying the Islamic Republic. He said he believed a deal could eventually be reached, potentially after the US midterm elections.

Trump later said US special envoy Steve Witkoff and White House adviser Jared Kushner had held a three-hour meeting with Iranian officials. He described the encounter as “very good” and “very productive” and said further talks were expected.

Witkoff gave a more cautious account, saying the US side held lengthy discussions with the Iranian delegation through mediators who moved between the two sides. He said the discussions had been completed and that the mediators would continue their work.

Iranian state media reported that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Witkoff and conveyed Tehran’s conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The conditions included lifting the US naval blockade, releasing frozen Iranian assets and ending the war across all fronts, according to the reports.

A senior Iranian official separately indicated that Iran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a week if the United States eased military pressure and lifted its blockade of Iranian ports.