Trump says Iran must abandon its nuclear ambitions and support for terrorism or face further US military action.
US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran could face the “annihilation” of the Islamic Republic if it refuses to reach an agreement to end its nuclear ambitions and support for terrorism.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly , Trump said he had given Iran opportunities to negotiate and offered economic cooperation in exchange for ending its nuclear programme and support for terrorism, but that Tehran had refused.
He said the US subsequently launched Operation Midnight Hammer, which he claimed “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear programmeheadline an, but added that he again urged Tehran to reach a deal.
Trump said Iran had continued developing missiles and drones capable of threatening US service members and countries in the region, including Europe.
He warned that Iran’s nuclear ambitions could allow the regime to carry out large-scale attacks while protected by a nuclear arsenal.
“Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness or generations?” Trump asked, while also saying he believed a deal could still be reached after the US midterm elections.
The US president said his decision on Iran would not be influenced by the elections, insisting that his priority was ensuring that Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon.
Trump also claimed that Operation Epic Fury had destroyed Iran’s navy, air force, radar, anti-aircraft equipment, missile and drone manufacturing capacity, and severely damaged its economy.
He called on other countries to join the United States in maintaining economic pressure on Iran until it stops attacks on commercial shipping, abandons its nuclear ambitions and ends its support for terrorism.
Trump said the Iranian regime was behaving aggressively because it was “weak and desperate”, adding that he expected a future in which the “51-year menace” of Iranian terrorism would end.
Turning to Gaza, Trump said that when he addressed the UN General Assembly a year earlier, the war was still raging, hostages remained in Hamas tunnels and there appeared to be no end in sight.