Trump Threatens to Annihilate Iran at UN as Tehran Vows Never to Surrender

By: Ebenezer Adugyamfi / Emmanuel Ayiku for GhanaianNewsCanada September 23, 2026

US President Donald Trump has issued one of his strongest warnings yet to Iran, telling the United Nations General Assembly that the United States could “annihilate” the Islamic Republic if Tehran fails to reach an agreement to end the war.

Trump made the remarks during his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, where he defended the US military campaign against Iran and argued that Washington had acted to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

The warning came as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict continued behind the scenes, creating a striking contrast between Trump’s hard-line public message and ongoing attempts by US and Iranian officials to communicate through intermediaries.

Trump presents Iran with a stark choice

Speaking before world leaders, Trump said he faced what he described as a major decision over the future of the conflict.

He said Iran could either reach an agreement that would allow the country to rebuild and potentially become a stronger nation, or face further military action.

“I have a big decision to make,” Trump said, according to Reuters. He then questioned whether there would be a deal or whether he would “annihilate the Islamic Republic” and do so quickly.

Trump argued that the United States could not allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon or continue actions that Washington considers a threat to other countries.

He also called for greater international economic pressure on Tehran, arguing that isolating Iran could help force its leaders back to the negotiating table.

Trump nevertheless indicated that he believed a diplomatic agreement could still be reached.

The US president said he expected a deal could come after the November 3 US midterm elections, while suggesting that Iran had reasons to continue talking with Washington.

Iranian president responds with defiance

Trump’s remarks were followed the next day by a sharply worded response from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

Addressing the same UN General Assembly on Wednesday, Pezeshkian rejected the idea that Iran could be forced into submission through military pressure.

He accused Trump of demonstrating what he called a “bullying mentality” and said threats from Washington would only strengthen resistance inside Iran.

Pezeshkian said Iran would not surrender but maintained that Tehran remained willing to pursue negotiations and diplomacy to resolve the conflict.

“The Iranian people will not bow to pressure,” he said, according to Reuters.

The Iranian president’s response directly addressed Trump’s threat and turned the UN General Assembly into a highly visible exchange between the leaders of two countries currently at war.

Pezeshkian says Iran remains open to diplomacy

Despite his strong criticism of Washington, Pezeshkian did not close the door to negotiations.

He repeatedly said Iran was prepared to resolve its differences with the United States through diplomacy, but insisted that Tehran would not accept negotiations conducted under military threats or coercion.

Iranian officials have also indicated that they want Washington to formally commit to resolving the conflict through diplomatic means before negotiations can make significant progress.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday that Iran and the United States remained far apart over the terms for ending the war, although diplomacy needed to continue.

That position suggests that, despite the increasingly hostile public statements from both sides, diplomatic channels have not completely closed.

US and Iran hold indirect talks in New York

Behind the confrontational speeches, American and Iranian representatives have also been communicating through mediators on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff said American and Iranian representatives participated in lengthy discussions on Tuesday, with mediators moving between the two sides.

Trump later described the discussions involving Witkoff and Jared Kushner as productive and suggested that there was momentum toward a possible agreement.

However, Iranian officials have indicated that the two sides remain divided over fundamental issues surrounding how the war should end.

The talks are significant because they represent the first such indirect contacts between Washington and Tehran in months after an interim ceasefire agreement collapsed in July.

Iran’s nuclear programme remains at the centre of the dispute

One of the most important issues separating the two governments remains Iran’s nuclear programme.

Trump has repeatedly said the United States cannot allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon.

Pezeshkian, however, told the UN that Iran does not seek nuclear weapons and defended what Tehran describes as its right to peaceful nuclear technology.

The disagreement over Iran’s nuclear activities has been at the heart of tensions between Washington and Tehran and remains a central issue in efforts to negotiate an end to the conflict.

The Strait of Hormuz adds another layer of tension

The conflict has also raised concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global energy supplies.

Iran has previously signalled that it could reopen the strategic shipping route if certain conditions were met, while the United States has maintained military pressure in the region.

A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz to Gulf shipping within days if Washington met its demands.

The possibility of disruption in the waterway has added to concerns about energy supplies and global oil markets, making the US-Iran confrontation an issue that extends far beyond the two countries.

US delegation walks out during Pezeshkian’s speech

The tension between Washington and Tehran was also visible inside the UN chamber.

The US delegation walked out at the beginning of Pezeshkian’s address on Wednesday.

The walkout came as the Iranian president criticised Trump’s remarks and accused Washington of using military force and pressure to try to compel Iran to surrender.

The US mission to the United Nations did not immediately provide a public response to Reuters about the walkout.

A diplomatic opening despite the confrontation

The contrasting speeches from Trump and Pezeshkian highlight the difficult position facing negotiators.

Trump is publicly threatening further military action while simultaneously saying a deal could be reached. Iran, meanwhile, is rejecting Washington’s threats while maintaining that it is prepared to negotiate.

For now, the two governments remain far apart on the conditions for ending the conflict.

The UN General Assembly has therefore become both a stage for increasingly forceful rhetoric and a venue for renewed diplomatic contacts.

Whether those contacts can produce a ceasefire or a broader agreement remains uncertain, but the continued communication suggests that diplomatic efforts have not completely broken down.

The immediate focus will now be on whether Washington and Tehran can translate their indirect discussions into substantive negotiations, while avoiding further military escalation that could widen the conflict across the Middle East.