Trump Hints at Iran Deal After November Midterms, Says US Could 'Annihilate' Tehran
Trump told the UN General Assembly the US could quickly 'annihilate' Iran but suggested a deal may come after November's midterm elections.
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Washington could swiftly "annihilate" Iran, while leaving open the possibility of an agreement to end the conflict once the country's midterm elections are over.
Addressing the 81st United Nations General Assembly, Trump said the United States would never permit Iran to acquire nuclear weapons. He noted that Tehran appeared to be waiting to see how the November midterm elections unfold, and argued that it would make little sense for Iran to refrain from striking a deal with Washington after the vote.
The remarks come amid a prolonged standoff. On February 28, the United States and Israel launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities. In the months since, Iran has tightened its control over the Strait of Hormuz, while US forces have imposed a naval blockade targeting vessels travelling to or from Iranian ports.
On June 18, the two sides signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending the war across the region, including in Lebanon. The MoU set a 60-day window for negotiations towards a final agreement, a deadline that lapsed on August 17. The fate of those talks remains uncertain amid recent escalations.