President says Tehran is waiting until after the midterm elections to negotiate, but insists domestic politics will not determine his next move
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – President Donald Trump delivered a stark warning to Iran from the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, presenting Tehran with a choice between a negotiated settlement and a renewed American military campaign against the Islamic Republic.
“I have a big decision to make,” Trump told world leaders. “Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before? Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?”
The remarks, captured in a C-SPAN video clip, were among the most forceful moments of Trump’s address. They also underscored the uncertainty surrounding the next phase of the conflict, now nearing its seventh month.
President Trump says Iran deal will be made after the midterm elections, and says he has decision between a deal with Iran or destroying them: "Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?" pic.twitter.com/Y5K6v4B326
— CSPAN (@cspan) September 22, 2026
Trump argued that Iran’s leaders are delaying negotiations until after the November midterm elections in hopes that Republican losses might weaken his position.
“They’re waiting to see how I do in the midterm election,” he said. Trump maintained that the strategy would not influence him, noting that he is not on the ballot and will remain in office regardless of the outcome.
“I gave absolutely no credence and will not give credence to the election when it comes to Iran,” Trump said. “It doesn’t even enter my mind.”
A Warning Directed at Iran’s Government
Trump’s language centered on the Islamic Republic—the governing regime in Tehran—rather than the Iranian people. He left open the possibility that Iran could recover economically under an agreement that met Washington’s demands.
At the same time, the president made clear that he is considering additional military action if Tehran refuses to negotiate.
“Do I drive them into hell?” Trump asked as he described the decision before him.
Most members of Iran’s delegation walked out of the General Assembly chamber during Trump’s remarks, according to the Associated Press.
The president accused Iran’s government of acting from weakness rather than strength and urged other nations to stand together against its regional activities.
“If we stand united, we will soon see a world free of the last 51-year menace of Iranian terror,” Trump said.
War, Oil and the Strait of Hormuz
The confrontation has extended far beyond the battlefield. Fighting and restrictions around the Strait of Hormuz have disrupted a waterway central to the international energy trade, contributing to higher oil prices and mounting economic pressure.
Trump predicted that energy prices would fall sharply once the conflict ends. He also accused Tehran of delaying an agreement to fully reopen the strait.
Before the speech, Trump was scheduled to meet with leaders and senior officials from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and Oman. The Gulf states have faced growing security concerns as the conflict has expanded and Iran-backed forces have threatened regional shipping and neighboring countries.
The president’s message at the U.N. reflected the strategy his administration has pursued throughout the conflict: overwhelming military pressure paired with an offer of economic recovery if Iran accepts a settlement.
The White House has said its military objectives include destroying Iran’s missile-production capacity, eliminating its ability to threaten regional shipping and preventing the regime from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Trump’s address suggested those objectives remain in place, even as he weighs whether diplomacy can bring the war to an end.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
