Date: September 22, 2026
Reporter: Emilly Jordan
U.S. President Donald Trump warned Iran on Tuesday that he could “annihilate” the Islamic Republic if Tehran fails to reach a deal to end the war, even as American and Iranian officials held lengthy indirect talks through mediators on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
Trump made the warning during his address to the UN General Assembly, where both he and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian were attending the annual gathering of world leaders. Trump said he faced a major decision over whether to pursue a diplomatic settlement with Iran or take further military action.
“I have a big decision to make,” Trump said, according to Reuters. He questioned whether a deal could allow Iran to rebuild or whether the United States would instead “annihilate” the Islamic Republic.
Despite the confrontational language, diplomatic efforts were continuing behind the scenes. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff said on Tuesday that the United States and Iran had engaged in lengthy discussions through mediators who moved between the two sides throughout the day.
Witkoff said the mediators would continue their work and expressed hope that the discussions would prove constructive and promising. The talks represented one of the clearest signs in months that Washington and Tehran were again exploring a possible diplomatic path to end the conflict.
Iran had already signalled that its delegation in New York had authority to revive negotiations. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran had sent its latest proposal to Washington through mediators the previous week.
Under the proposal, Iran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz to Gulf shipping within seven days if the United States eased military pressure and lifted its blockade of Iranian ports. The Iranian official said Washington would first have to formally declare that it wanted to resolve the conflict through diplomacy and agree on a timetable for negotiations.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world's most important energy routes. Before the war, roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas shipments passed through the waterway. Its disruption has placed additional pressure on energy markets and has affected Gulf states that depend heavily on maritime exports.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington remained open to speaking with Iranian officials. He said the United States was willing to engage if discussions had a realistic prospect of producing an outcome that addressed Washington's objectives.
Rubio also noted the structure of Iran's political system, saying President Pezeshkian does not have ultimate authority over the country's security and military policy. Iranian officials, meanwhile, have continued to insist that Tehran will not surrender to U.S. pressure.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf reiterated that position on Tuesday, saying Iran would not surrender and that Trump could not impose his will on the Iranian people and armed forces. Iran's armed forces also dismissed Trump's UN remarks as propaganda and warned that they remained prepared to respond to further attacks.
The current conflict began nearly seven months ago after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes against Iran. The war has killed thousands of people, driven oil prices higher and drawn other countries and armed groups into the wider conflict, according to Reuters.
The diplomatic effort is also closely linked to the situation in the Gulf. Trump was scheduled to meet the leaders of Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in New York. The Gulf countries want shipping through the Strait of Hormuz restored but are also concerned about giving Iran greater influence over the strategic waterway.
Several of the Gulf states host major U.S. military installations that have come under repeated Iranian attacks during the conflict.
Saudi Arabia has faced additional pressure because of the expanding conflict in Yemen. Iran-aligned Houthi fighters have advanced against forces supported by Riyadh and are threatening Saudi oil exports through the Red Sea. The Houthis are also seeking control around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, another strategically important shipping route.
The United States has so far resisted Saudi requests to become directly involved in the latest fighting against the Houthis. Rubio said Washington would continue to support Saudi Arabia but described the Yemen conflict as dangerous and complex.
There was some relief for oil markets on Tuesday after sources told Reuters that Saudi Arabia had restarted its East-West oil pipeline and could resume exports from the Red Sea port of Yanbu within hours, although at reduced volumes. The pipeline provides Saudi Arabia with an alternative route for exporting oil when shipments through the Strait of Hormuz are disrupted.
Qatar is also attempting to promote a broader regional diplomatic framework. Regional sources said Doha has proposed bringing Iran and the Arab Gulf states into a common security arrangement. Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said such an arrangement would need to provide security guarantees for Gulf countries while increasing economic interdependence with Iran. One regional source said Iran was reviewing the proposal.
For now, the situation remains uncertain. Trump is publicly threatening further military action, while U.S. and Iranian representatives are simultaneously using mediators to explore a possible agreement. Iran has tied the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to the easing of U.S. military pressure and the lifting of the blockade on its ports.
The diplomatic activity at the UN therefore comes as Washington and Tehran continue to maintain sharply different positions while facing pressure to prevent the conflict from causing further disruption to regional security, global energy supplies and international shipping.