Wednesday, 23 September 2026 · Full edition

US President Trump threatens to 'annihilate' Iran in UN speech, BBC reports

The interior of the UN General Assembly hall in New York featuring the iconic blue and gold podium.
The interior of the UN General Assembly hall in New York featuring the iconic blue and gold podium. · Basil D Soufi / Wikimedia CommonsCC BY-SA 3.0

What happened

US President Donald Trump threatened extreme action against Iran, including a warning to "annihilate" the country, during a speech at the United Nations General Assembly. Trump questioned whether a peace deal would be agreed, even as diplomatic officials met on the summit's sidelines.

Why it matters

The combination of severe public threats and concurrent sideline talks creates unpredictability for global energy markets and maritime trade. Sudden shifts between rhetoric and negotiation complicate risk management for international commercial operations.

Bigger picture

Summit diplomacy frequently pairs public threat escalation with quiet side-channel negotiation, using overt warnings as tactical leverage ahead of potential security agreements.

Watch next

Diplomatic announcements following the sideline meetings to see if officials report progress toward an agreement or signal further escalation.

Original source
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