Reported by:
Cherry Meigh Timbol
News Content Editor
Published September 23, 2026
NEW YORK — President Donald Trump used his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday to defend the U.S. confrontation with Iran, arguing that Washington could not allow Tehran to develop a nuclear weapon while continuing to support militant organizations across the Middle East.
Trump described Iran as a major security threat and said preventing the regime from acquiring nuclear weapons was a problem his administration believed it had to confront rather than postpone.
Trump said his administration had offered Iran economic cooperation in exchange for permanently ending its nuclear weapons program and support for organizations Washington considers terrorist groups. According to Trump, Tehran rejected the offer.
He then pointed to U.S. military operations against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, saying Washington had acted after diplomatic efforts failed.
At the United Nations, Trump argued that Iran’s pursuit of nuclear capabilities was particularly dangerous because of its conventional missile arsenal and relationships with regional militant groups.
Trump also connected Iran to the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack in Israel, referencing the deaths of Israeli civilians and Americans.
The Jerusalem Post reported that Trump described Iran as the world’s “number one sponsor of terror” and reiterated his position that Tehran should not be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon.
Iran has rejected Washington’s accusations and maintains its own position regarding its nuclear program and regional activities.
Despite his hard-line position, Trump did not rule out negotiations. During his speech, he indicated that a diplomatic settlement with Iran remained possible.
The comments came amid reports of contacts between U.S. and Iranian representatives. Trump said his representatives Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff had met with Iranian officials on the sidelines of the U.N. gathering.
The diplomatic developments are unfolding alongside the continuing dispute over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy routes.
The Jerusalem Post reported that a senior Iranian official said Tehran could reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping within seven days if Washington eased military pressure and lifted its blockade of Iranian ports.
Iran has also warned that further U.S. military operations could trigger retaliation.
Trump said the United States had been escorting oil shipments through the waterway and called for continued international pressure on Tehran over attacks on commercial shipping and its nuclear program.
The confrontation has consequences beyond the United States and Iran. Continued disruption around the Strait of Hormuz could affect international oil transportation, shipping insurance and energy prices.
For Israel and Gulf states, the outcome could affect Iran’s regional military influence and the ability of Iranian-backed groups to operate.
For Iran, negotiations could potentially provide a path toward economic relief, but any agreement would involve difficult questions surrounding its nuclear program, military capabilities, sanctions and regional relationships.
🧩 Bottom Line:
Trump used his U.N. address to make clear that preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon remains a central U.S. objective. At the same time, reported U.S.-Iran contacts indicate that diplomacy remains possible alongside continued military and economic pressure. The next phase of the crisis will depend largely on whether Washington and Tehran can reach an agreement addressing the nuclear issue, regional security concerns and sanctions without triggering another escalation.
SOURCES:BREITBART NEWS – Donald Trump at U.N.: Stopping Iran Regime from Sponsoring Terror and Getting Nuclear Weapons ‘a Reality We Had to Confront’
THE JERUSALEM POST – Trump denounces Iran as ‘terror regime behaving badly,’ during UNGA address
