# Trump threatens Iran at U.N., promises deal after midterms > The president warns of annihilation while signaling negotiations could follow November elections. - Title: Trump threatens Iran at U.N., promises deal after midterms - Summary: The president warns of annihilation while signaling negotiations could follow November elections. Trump is using military threats as leverage to negotiate a… - Keywords: trump, iran, united nations, nuclear weapons, midterm elections, venezuela, ukraine, greenland, cuba, war crimes allegations, gas prices, artificial intelligence - Source: NBC News — https://nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/trump-address-united-nations-general-assembly-iran-war-rcna599085 - Author: Megan Brand - Published: 2026-09-22T16:44:03.44+00:00 - Read time: 2 min - Topics: trump, iran, united nations, nuclear weapons, midterm elections, venezuela, ukraine, greenland, cuba, war crimes allegations, gas prices, artificial intelligence ## Trump threatens to annihilate Iran At the U.N. General Assembly, President Trump said he could drive Iran "into hell" or make a deal allowing the nation to rebuild. He framed it as a choice between annihilation and negotiation. > Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness? ## Deal timing tied to midterm elections Trump predicted Iran would negotiate after November midterms, saying the country is "waiting to see how I do in the midterm election." He believes a deal makes sense for both sides. > I believe we'll make a deal right after the election because it doesn't make sense for them not to. ## Nuclear weapons remain the priority Trump emphasized that preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons is the most important outcome. He called Iran's nuclear potential "a reality that far too many preferred to ignore." > Most important is ensuring that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. ## War crimes allegations shadow the speech The U.N. Human Rights Council found "reasonable grounds" that the U.S. committed war crimes during indiscriminate attacks on an Iranian school and residential area in February. ## Gas prices spike 50 percent since war began Average gas prices hit $4.47 per gallon, up about 50 percent since the Iran war started. Diesel surged to $6.52 per gallon, affected by both the Iran conflict and the Russia-Ukraine war. ## Trump claims U.S. economy is world's best Trump touted the U.S. economy as "the envy of the world" and highlighted tax policy and stock market records. However, 56 percent of registered voters disapprove of his job performance. > Our economy is the envy of the world. Our military is the most powerful on Earth. ## Trump rebrands AI as superintelligence Trump said the U.S. will call artificial intelligence "superintelligence" in official documents, arguing the word "artificial" makes it sound fake. He pledged to encourage AI growth rather than restrict it. > We're going to encourage it, not rein it in. ## U.S. seizes Venezuelan oil reserves Trump called a deal giving the U.S. majority control of over 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan oil "perhaps the biggest deal ever made." The move followed the capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife. > To the victor belong the spoils. ## Cuban delegation walks out on Trump Trump called Cuba "a failed state" and said his administration is seeking fundamental change there. The Cuban delegation stood up and left the assembly hall in response. ## U.S. takes control of Greenland security Trump announced the U.S. will take over military operations and have "permanent control over security" in Greenland. A deal with Greenland and Denmark leaders is expected to be signed Tuesday. ## Ukraine meeting could shift war timeline Trump is meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said the meeting "could change a lot." Trump predicted the Ukraine war would end "more quickly than people understand." ## Iran delegation present during threats Trump made his annihilation threats with an Iranian delegation sitting in the U.N. assembly audience. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is scheduled to address the U.N. on Wednesday. ## Key takeaway Trump is using military threats as leverage to negotiate a post-election Iran deal, while also pursuing major geopolitical moves on Venezuela, Cuba, Ukraine, and Greenland.