US President Donald Trump has threatened to “annihilate” Iran if Tehran fails to reach a deal with Washington, while simultaneously revealing that American and Iranian officials have held fresh talks in New York.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, Mr Trump said he faced a choice between reaching an agreement that would allow Iran to rebuild or taking military action against the Islamic Republic.
“Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness or generations?” he asked.
But shortly after his speech, Mr Trump disclosed that Iranian and US representatives had held a three-hour meeting on the sidelines of the UN gathering.
He described the meeting as “very good” and “very productive”, adding that another meeting was expected to take place soon. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was reported to have met US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Mr Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner.
The meeting represents the first confirmed direct contact between senior US and Iranian officials in months, amid continuing tensions between the two countries.
Mr Trump said he believed a deal remained possible, but insisted that Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons.
The US president has also linked the possibility of a broader settlement to the ongoing conflict and pressure on Iran, while Tehran has sought an easing of American military and economic measures.
Iranian officials have indicated that negotiations could also address the status of the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global oil-shipping route, with one senior Iranian official reportedly saying Tehran could consider reopening the waterway if Washington takes reciprocal steps to ease pressure on Iran.
Despite the renewed diplomatic contact, significant differences remain between Washington and Tehran, and there is no indication yet that a final agreement is imminent.
For now, Mr Trump’s public threats and the newly disclosed negotiations point to a sharply mixed US approach — combining pressure and the threat of military action with renewed diplomatic engagement.
