US President Donald Trump used his address to the United Nations general assembly to openly contemplate the annihilation of Iran, describing a 'big decision' he faces over the country he went to war with earlier in the year, according to the Guardian.
Key facts
- Trump raised the possibility of annihilating Iran during his UN general assembly address, according to the Guardian.
- He said he had 'a big decision to make' over Iran roughly 11 minutes into the 40-minute speech.
- The Guardian reported Iran has mounted a more determined resistance than Trump anticipated.
- Trump decided to go to war against Iran in February, per the Guardian.
US President Donald Trump used his address to the United Nations general assembly to openly contemplate the annihilation of Iran, a fellow UN member state, in remarks the Guardian described as stunning even by his standards.
According to the Guardian, Trump has a habit of discomfiting delegates at the UN general assembly, but this year he may have ‘upstaged the ghost’ of former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev by openly musing about the destruction of another member state.
About 11 minutes into his 40-minute address, the US president announced he had ‘a big decision to make’ over Iran, the Guardian reported.
The comments come against the backdrop of a conflict that, according to the Guardian, has not unfolded as Trump expected. The outlet reported that Iran has staged a much more determined resistance than Trump anticipated when he decided to go to war against the country in February.
The Guardian’s account frames the moment as a striking escalation in rhetoric delivered on one of the world’s most prominent diplomatic stages, where leaders of UN member states gather each year.
Why it matters
A sitting US president publicly weighing the annihilation of another UN member state marks an extraordinary moment on the world's leading diplomatic stage. The remarks signal continued uncertainty over the direction of a war that, according to the Guardian, has already defied Washington's expectations.
Frequently asked questions
What did Trump say about Iran at the UN?
According to the Guardian, Trump openly contemplated the annihilation of Iran and said he had 'a big decision to make' over the country during his address to the UN general assembly.
When did the US go to war with Iran?
The Guardian reported that Trump decided to go to war against Iran in February.
How has the war progressed?
The Guardian reported that Iran has staged a much more determined resistance than Trump anticipated when he decided to go to war.