US President Donald Trump has threatened to “annihilate” Iran if diplomatic efforts fail, while revealing that senior American and Iranian officials have resumed talks on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Trump said the two sides held a three-hour meeting on Tuesday involving Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, US special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
The talks marked the first known face-to-face engagement between senior US and Iranian officials since Vice-President JD Vance met representatives of Tehran in Switzerland in June.
The development came hours after Trump delivered a combative address to the UN General Assembly, in which he said he was considering whether to reach an agreement with Iran or destroy its Islamic Republic.
“I have a big decision to make — will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country?” Trump said.
“Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again? Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival?”
Trump's speech prompted almost the entire Iranian delegation to leave the chamber, with only one member reportedly remaining.
The US president nevertheless struck a conciliatory tone after the speech, saying the Iranian and American delegations had held a productive meeting and would meet again soon.
“They had a very good meeting, a very productive meeting — they have another one scheduled in the very near future,” Trump told reporters during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump later told Gulf leaders that he believed the diplomatic process had gained momentum.
“I think there’s a lot of momentum for them to make a deal, that’s what we’re hearing from everybody,” he said.
Iran, however, appears to be demanding significant concessions before any breakthrough can be achieved.
Iranian state news agency IRIB reported that Araghchi told Witkoff that Tehran wanted the immediate lifting of the US naval blockade, the release of frozen Iranian assets and an end to the conflict across what Tehran describes as “all resistance fronts”.
The demands were reportedly linked to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route whose continued disruption has contributed to higher fuel prices.
Witkoff said mediators had spent the day moving between the American and Iranian delegations.
“They successfully completed a round of discussions that we hope will prove constructive and promising,” he said in a post on X.
He added that the mediators would continue their efforts.
The latest diplomatic contact comes more than six months after the US and Israel launched military action against Iran on February 28.
Trump had initially predicted that the conflict would end within four or five weeks, but the fighting has continued, with a ceasefire agreed in April subsequently collapsing.
Negotiations have also stalled over Iran's refusal to give up control of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump has repeatedly justified the military campaign on the grounds that Iran must not be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. But the war has also increased fuel costs in the United States, adding to economic concerns ahead of the November midterm elections.
Trump suggested that Tehran could agree to a settlement after the elections, when Republicans will be seeking to retain control of Congress.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is expected to address the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.
Trump, Zelensky discuss Ukraine war
Trump's diplomatic push at the UN also extended to the Russia-Ukraine war, although no breakthrough was announced after his meeting with Zelensky.
The US president reiterated his belief that the war could end soon, despite continued uncertainty over Moscow's willingness to accept a settlement.
“It’s going to happen, I think, more quickly than people understand,” Trump told the General Assembly.
Zelensky later said Ukraine was willing to stop attacks on Russian energy infrastructure if Russia agreed to reciprocate.
His comments followed Trump's call for Kyiv to halt strikes on Russian diesel refineries.
Trump had previously claimed that he could end the Ukraine war within 24 hours, but the conflict remains unresolved.
US expands Greenland security presence
Trump also signed a security agreement involving the United States, Greenland and Denmark during the UN gathering.
The deal provides for the construction of two US military bases in southern and eastern Greenland and prohibits non-NATO countries from establishing military installations on the Arctic island.
The agreement comes against the backdrop of Trump's repeated calls for the United States to take control of Greenland, an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.
“It’s going to be a long-term, fantastic relationship,” Trump said.
His territorial ambitions over Greenland have generated concern among Denmark and other traditional US allies since he returned to the White House.
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