Threats accompany renewed US-Iran talks at the UN
Trump threatened to “annihilate” Iran before describing talks as “very good”; Tehran’s military warned of more severe strikes.
US President Donald Trump paired a threat of destruction against Iran with a claim of diplomatic progress at the United Nations General Assembly, as the two countries resumed discussions through mediators.
Trump said US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and described them as “very good”. Witkoff said the discussions had concluded and expressed hope they would be constructive. Mediators shuttled between the delegations, and the account does not establish that the officials met directly.
In his UN address, Trump asked whether he should help Iran rebuild through a deal or “annihilate” the Islamic Republic. Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff accused him of using the UN platform to justify aggression and warned its forces could deliver strikes against the US and Israel that would be “more crushing and less predictable”.
The talks come amid disputes over sanctions, a US naval blockade on Iranian ports, navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s nuclear programme. A June memorandum of understanding lapsed last month amid reported violations during the nearly seven-month US-Israel war on Iran.
No agreement or breakthrough was reported. Trump said he expected another meeting soon, but that is not confirmation it will take place. Al Jazeera quoted analyst Andreas Krieg, who said public threats can form part of the bargaining over how any eventual agreement is presented to domestic and international audiences.
