Trump’s UN General Assembly address combines Iran threats with calls to expand US influence
Donald Trump used his address to the UN General Assembly to threaten Iran with destruction if it did not reach a deal, while predicting an agreement after the US midterm elections. He also rejected international AI regulation, urged countries to leave the International Criminal Court, and made claims about Cuba, Venezuela and a US security role in Greenland.
Key points
- Trump framed Iran’s nuclear program and a possible deal as a choice between agreement and destruction, while saying he expected a deal after the November elections.
Evidence · 3 source statements
Trump said he faces a decision on Iran: make a deal with the U.S. or "annihilate the Islamic republic."
“annihilate the Islamic Republic” and “drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness.”
I believe we'll make a deal right after the [November] election because it doesn't make sense for them not to.
- His address also set out positions on AI, the ICC and US influence in the Western Hemisphere, and included claims about Greenland and Cuba.
Evidence · 5 source statements
Our actions in Venezuela are proof that the United States will no longer permit threats to America to gain a foothold anywhere in the Western Hemisphere, and if necessary, we…
totally rejects any attempt to construct a globalist scheme to control for the artificial intelligence (AI).
the US would build two new military bases in Greenland as part of an agreement with the government of Denmark
It's an absolutely failed state. It's failing like never before, and it will fall,
- Trump’s claim that the US and Venezuela together account for more than 60% of the world’s oil differs sharply from published estimates of their shares of proven reserves and current production.
Evidence · 4 source statements
When you add the United States and Venezuela together, we have more than 60% of the oil in the world.
“When you add the United States and Venezuela together, we have more than 60 percent of the oil in the world.”
Based on proven reserves - oil considered recoverable under current economic and operating conditions - the US and Venezuela together account for roughly 21.9% of the global total.
Based on current production, the combined figure is around 23.2%.
Who's involved
Donald Trump
He delivered the address and set out the US administration’s stated positions and demands.
Trump said Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon, urged economic isolation and threatened annihilation if no deal was reached, while predicting an agreement after the midterms. He opposed international AI regulation and called for countries to leave the ICC.
What they said · 6 source statements
I will never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon
“annihilate the Islamic Republic” and “drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness.”
he urged countries to support the “complete economic isolation of Iran” until it ended attacks on commercial shipping and support for terrorism.
I believe we'll make a deal right after the [November] election because it doesn't make sense for them not to.
totally rejects any attempt to construct a globalist scheme to control for the artificial intelligence (AI).
He described the International Criminal Court (ICC) as an institution “full of evil people” with no jurisdiction over the United States and called on nations to withdraw from it.
Masoud Pezeshkian
As Iran’s president, he represented the state targeted by Trump’s threats and demands.
Pezeshkian said Iran had negotiated before and that agreements were readily disregarded; he also said Iran would not yield to military pressure but remained open to diplomacy.
What they said · 2 source statements
We have been at the negotiating table several times. The whole world sees that they are easily trample on, the agreements.
Pezeshkian also told the General Assembly that Tehran would not surrender to military pressure while signaling that Iran remained open to diplomacy.
Where accounts differ
The US and Venezuela’s share of the world’s oil
- Trump said the two countries together account for more than 60% of the world’s oil.
Evidence · 2 source statements
When you add the United States and Venezuela together, we have more than 60% of the oil in the world.
“When you add the United States and Venezuela together, we have more than 60 percent of the oil in the world.”
- France 24 put their combined share at about 21.9% of proven reserves and 23.2% of current production; AP put their share of global reserves at about 22%.
Evidence · 3 source statements
Based on proven reserves - oil considered recoverable under current economic and operating conditions - the US and Venezuela together account for roughly 21.9% of the global total.
Based on current production, the combined figure is around 23.2%.
The reported estimates are far below Trump’s figure. They specify reserves or production, while Trump’s statement did not specify which measure he meant.
What was reported
- Trump addressed the 81st session of the UN General Assembly.
Reported independently by 2: RIA Novosti, Xinhua News Agency
Evidence · 2 source statements
The United States totally rejects any attempt to "construct a globalist scheme" to control the artificial intelligence being spoken of so much now, said Trump in delivering his…
- Trump said Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon and raised annihilating the Islamic Republic as an alternative to reaching a deal.
Reported independently by 2: CGTN, UN News
Evidence · 3 source statements
I will never allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon
“annihilate the Islamic Republic” and “drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness.”
Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?
- He called on countries to economically isolate Iran until it stopped attacks on commercial shipping, gave up its nuclear ambitions and ended support for terrorism.
One source: Yonhap News Agency
Evidence · 1 source statement
I call on all nations to join us in enforcing the complete economic isolation of Iran until they stop their attacks on commercial shipping, relinquish their nuclear ambitions,…
- Trump predicted that the United States and Iran would make a deal after the November midterm elections.
Reported independently by 2: TASS, Yonhap News Agency
Evidence · 2 source statements
I believe we'll make a deal right after the [November] election because it doesn't make sense for them not to.
he believes his administration will make a deal with Iran right after the U.S. midterm elections in November.
- Trump said the United States would encourage AI development, opposed a global scheme to control it, and promoted replacing the term “artificial intelligence” with “super intelligence.”
Reported independently by 3: France 24, TASS, Xinhua News Agency
Evidence · 3 source statements
We’re going to encourage it, not rein it in,
the "United States totally rejects any attempt to construct a globalist scheme to control ... artificial intelligence."
Trump also pushed to replace the name of artificial intelligence with "super intelligence."
- He called on countries to withdraw from the International Criminal Court, which he described as out of control.
Reported independently by 2: France 24, UN News
Evidence · 2 source statements
He described the International Criminal Court (ICC) as an institution “full of evil people” with no jurisdiction over the United States and called on nations to withdraw from it.
"out of control."
- Trump said agreements with Denmark and Greenland would give the United States permanent control over Greenland’s security, and announced plans for two military bases there.
Reported independently by 2: TASS, UN News
Evidence · 3 source statements
permanent control over security and all other needs
We'll be building two very major military bases,
permanent control over security and all other needs on that territory. We will have the complete ability to do what is necessary to defend the American continent and also Europe…
- Trump described Cuba as a failed state and predicted its government would fall; the Cuban delegation left the hall during his speech.
Reported independently by 2: The Guardian, Yonhap News Agency
Evidence · 2 source statements
It's an absolutely failed state. It's failing like never before, and it will fall,
prompting the Cuban delegation to walk out of the hall as the president continued to criticise the US’s neighbour
- Trump said the United States could use military force to protect its interests in the Western Hemisphere, and claimed the United States and Venezuela together had more than 60% of the world’s oil.
Reported independently by 2: NPR, Yonhap News Agency
Evidence · 2 source statements
Our actions in Venezuela are proof that the United States will no longer permit threats to America to gain a foothold anywhere in the Western Hemisphere, and if necessary, we…
When you add the United States and Venezuela together, we have more than 60% of the oil in the world.
- CBC reported that the speech lasted 37 minutes and touched only briefly on Russia’s war against Ukraine.
One source: CBC News
Evidence · 1 source statement
Trump's 37-minute speech to the annual gathering of world leaders only briefly touched on Russia's long-running war against Ukraine.
How coverage differed
Yonhap News Agency reports — These reports highlighted that Trump did not mention North Korea, while also covering his remarks on Iran, Cuba and AI. The reports are repeated updates from the same outlet, not independent confirmation.
TASS reports — TASS gave separate attention to US military policy, Trump’s forecast of a future Iran deal, Greenland’s security and military presence, and AI.
CGTN reports — CGTN focused on Trump’s Iran threat, the Cuban delegation leaving during his remarks, and his proposal to call AI “super intelligence.”
Still unclear
- The full terms and scope of the Greenland security arrangement are not stated.
- The speech did not announce an agreement with Iran.
- No Cuban statement responding to Trump’s remarks is included.
Not heard from
- The governments of Denmark and Greenland — Trump described an agreement affecting Greenland’s security and announced plans for US bases, but their own views are not included.
- The Cuban government — Trump criticized Cuba and predicted its government would fall; the Cuban delegation’s walkout is reported, but no Cuban statement is included.
- The International Criminal Court — Trump urged member states to leave the court, but the ICC’s own response is not included.
- The Venezuelan government — Trump discussed Venezuela’s oil and US interests in the Western Hemisphere, but no Venezuelan position on those remarks is included.