Summary

Trump issues stark warning after claiming Iran has missile ‘capable of hitting Europe’ Donald Trump claims he has a choice whether to "annihilate the Islamic Republic" or let Iran become a "greater country", as he addressed the United Nations Donald Trump says that he has a "big decision" to make on Iran over whether to "annihilate the Islamic Republic", amid claims it has a missile capable of hitting Europe. The United States president was speaking to the UN General Assembly amid the conflict in the Middle East which has shaken the world economy with oil prices rocketing up and there is no clear end in sight. During his speech he repeated his claim that the war was started to prevent Iran from ever having a nuclear weapon while the immediate focus has moved to the blockading of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran which has limited shipping access. Iran has so far been resilient to the United States' missile attacks and its leadership has gathered strength over its ability to disrupt the strait. Trump also defended his actions in Iran by saying the country has missiles capable of hitting Europe, while bombastically saying: “I have a big decision to make. Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before? Maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world? “Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again? Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness for generations?" And he continued: "But I believe we will have a deal right after the election because it does';t make sense for them not to, they are waiting to see how I do in the midterm election, what they don't realise is I'm not standing, I did already and won in a landslide, and I will be here for two and half years." As Trump began to describe the last six months of on-and-off military strikes against Iran, the delegation of Iranians began to walk out, with only one person remaining seated. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are in New York for the annual meeting but didn’t arrive in the General Assembly hall for Trump’s speech. Instead, lower level staff and delegates were seated when he began to speak, only to leave 10 minutes into his speech. Interestingly Trump also appeared to give a message to the US voters by saying in his speech that the midterm elections are not a vote on him but the Republican Party. He said: "The Republican Party is running and I will be helping them. I gave no credence to the election (over Iran) and will give no credence, it doesn't even enter my mind, the only thing that does is that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon."