UNGA: IRAN WALKS OUT AFTER TRUMP’S ‘ANNIHILATION’ THREAT

Iranian delegates walked out of the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday after United States President Donald Trump threatened to “annihilate” the Islamic Republic if Tehran fails to reach a deal with Washington.

Trump made the remarks during his address to the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, where he defended the US military campaign against Iran and said he was considering whether to pursue a negotiated settlement or intensify the conflict.

Trump said he faced a major decision over whether to reach an agreement that would allow Iran to rebuild or take further military action against the country.

He nevertheless said he believed a settlement with Iran could eventually be reached, suggesting that negotiations could resume after the US midterm elections.

The Iranian delegation began leaving the General Assembly Hall about 10 minutes into Trump’s speech. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were in New York for the UN gathering but were not present in the hall during Trump’s address.

Trump devoted a significant part of his roughly 40-minute speech to defending his administration’s actions against Iran, saying the campaign was aimed at preventing Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons.

Iran has continued to deny that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, while the Trump administration has maintained that preventing Iran from obtaining such weapons is a central objective of its policy.

The US President also called on other countries to support pressure on Iran and said Washington remained open to diplomacy if it could lead to an agreement addressing the nuclear issue.

Trump’s remarks came as Iranian officials indicated that Tehran was prepared to resume negotiations under certain conditions. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Iran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if the United States reduced military pressure and lifted its blockade of Iranian ports.

Trump also turned his attention to Cuba, describing the communist government as a failed state and predicting that it would fall.

He said his administration was seeking fundamental changes in Cuba and that the government there was facing the greatest pressure it had ever experienced.

The Cuban delegation subsequently walked out of the General Assembly Hall during Trump’s remarks.

Trump’s comments contrasted with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s call for diplomacy to address international conflicts.

Lula told the assembly that military force alone could not resolve the wars and tensions facing the international community, while UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged countries to strengthen international cooperation.

Trump’s speech also covered other foreign-policy issues, including Gaza, Ukraine, Venezuela and the International Criminal Court.

He defended US military actions and claimed that American power had helped resolve several international conflicts, while calling for continued pressure on countries and organisations he criticised.

The US President also addressed the situation in Greenland, where Washington and Denmark signed an agreement concerning an increased US military presence while Denmark retained control of the territory.

Trump has previously expressed interest in acquiring Greenland and did not rule out that possibility when asked whether the new agreement meant Washington had abandoned the idea.

The General Assembly is the UN’s main deliberative body, bringing together representatives of member states to discuss international peace and security, development and other global issues.