United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday threatened to drive Iran to ” hell,” if Tehran fails to reach an agreement with Washington, telling world leaders at the 81st United Nations General Assembly that the Islamic Republic faces a choice between a negotiated settlement and further escalation.
Trump made the threat while outlining his administration’s actions against Iran and defending the military campaign that has brought Washington and Tehran into confrontation.
He said the United States was weighing whether to pursue an agreement that would allow Iran to rebuild and develop economically or intensify pressure on Tehran, warning that the alternative could mean driving the country “into hell”.
“Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before? Maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world. Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic, and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?” Trump said.
The US president, however, said he believed a deal would eventually be reached after the November midterm elections, arguing that Tehran was waiting to see the outcome of the elections before deciding whether to negotiate.
Trump insisted that the elections would have no bearing on his policy towards Iran, stressing that his overriding concern was to prevent the country from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
“What they don’t realise is that I’m not running,” he said, adding that he would not give electoral considerations any weight when dealing with Iran. The only thing that does is that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon,” he declared.
Trump’s threat came as Washington simultaneously signalled that diplomacy remained possible.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States was open to meeting Iranian officials on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, although no meeting had been formally arranged. Trump has also said he remains open to discussions with Tehran.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian arrived in New York for the UN gathering and is scheduled to address world leaders on Wednesday.
Trump, however, is expected to leave New York before Pezeshkian’s address and return to Washington, where he is scheduled to host Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Pezeshkian’s presence at the UN allows Tehran to present its position directly to the international community and engage with countries seeking an end to the conflict.
Iran has called for an end to the war and military action against the country and its regional allies, while demanding the lifting of the blockade imposed on its ports.
