President Donald Trump told the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday that he faces a choice between negotiating a peace deal with Iran or seeking the "annihilation" of the Islamic Republic. During his address in New York City, Trump stated that U.S. and Iranian officials had met earlier that day, following a speech in which he defended the ongoing nearly seven-month war. The president projected that a final agreement would likely be reached after the upcoming U.S. midterm elections, though he asserted that the election results would not dictate his strategy.
The conflict began on February 28, 2026, launched jointly by the United States and Israel. In his remarks, Trump claimed that Iran's regional power has been broken but stated he has yet to decide whether to permit the country to rebuild through a deal or to "annihilate" the government. While a Pentagon report recently acknowledged a shortage of munitions due to the conflict, Trump disputed this finding, stating that the U.S. is currently building stockpiles at a rapid pace.
Beyond the war, the president addressed several foreign policy and technology initiatives. He signed a new security agreement Tuesday with Denmark and Greenland regarding the island for continental defense. Trump also stated the U.S. would not "rein in" the development of artificial intelligence, which he referred to as "super-intelligence." He argued that the U.S. must lead China in this field, characterizing the technology as more significant than the Industrial Revolution.
The escalation also involves specific diplomatic and regional shifts. In the Western Hemisphere, the administration is seeking what Trump called a "fundamental change" in Cuba, with negotiations currently led by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL). During this portion of the speech, the Cuban delegation walked out of the assembly hall. Simultaneously, the U.S. is collaborating with the Venezuelan administration of Delcy Rodriguez, following the removal of Nicolas Maduro. Trump and Rodriguez were scheduled to meet Tuesday evening to discuss a bilateral oil deal signed in August.
Regarding technology policy, Trump stated the Department of Justice will monitor the sector. The president also noted he has designated drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, authorizing the military to conduct unilateral strikes against traffickers in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to address the U.N. on Thursday, though no meeting with Trump is currently planned.