Trump Threatens to Annihilate Iran at UN Speech

President Trump addressed the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, defending the Iran war and arguing past administrations let global dangers grow unchecked.

• Seven months into the war, the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and oil prices stay elevated.
• More than $1 billion has been cut from the UN budget under the Trump administration.
• Roughly 3,000 UN headquarters positions are being eliminated, per a senior U.S. official.
• Most of Iran's delegation walked out of the chamber during Trump's remarks.

Why it matters: The war has stalled short of White House objectives while causing broad economic damage. U.S.-backed strikes have killed much of Iran's top leadership and destroyed its air force and navy, but Iran-backed groups continue to threaten shipping in two key waterways.

• Saudi Arabia shut a major oil pipeline after Iran-backed militants attacked it in Iraq.
• Houthi territorial moves near the Bab al-Mandab Strait are blocking a second major Red Sea shipping lane.

How 114 sources split on this story

Where they split: Whether Trump's UN visit signals diplomatic flexibility on Iran or continued pressure — and whether the war is being won — is the central point of disagreement across coverage.

What’s next: Secretary of State Rubio said Trump is open to meeting Iranian President Pezeshkian while both are in New York.

• Qatar's foreign ministry spokesman said mediators face a 'deep deficit of trust' between Washington and Tehran.
• Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Washington Wednesday for talks with Trump at the White House.
• Will Trump meet directly with Iran's president on the sidelines of the General Assembly?
• How will the Xi summit address Chinese entities' reported role in assisting Iran?
• Can Qatar-led mediation break the impasse and reopen the Strait of Hormuz before the U.S. midterms?