# Two visions clash at the UN General Assembly > Trump threatened Iran with annihilation while Guterres urged multilateralism in their competing speeches at UNGA. - Title: Two visions clash at the UN General Assembly · Foreign Policy - Summary: Trump threatened Iran with annihilation while Guterres urged multilateralism in their competing speeches at UNGA. The UN is fracturing between those who see… - Keywords: donald trump, unga, united nations general assembly, iran, antónio guterres, volodymyr zelensky, multilateralism, international law, cuba, greenland, denmark, artificial intelligence - Source: Foreign Policy — https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/09/22/unga-speech-guterres-trump-united-nations-zelensky - Author: John Haltiwanger, Rishi Iyengar - Read time: 3 min - Topics: donald trump, unga, united nations general assembly, iran, antónio guterres, volodymyr zelensky, multilateralism, international law, cuba, greenland, denmark, artificial intelligence ## Trump opens with Iran ultimatum At the UN General Assembly on September 22, Trump threatened to annihilate Iran unless it makes a deal to end the war. He presented world leaders with a stark choice: negotiate or face destruction. > Do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again? ## Trump expects deal after midterms Trump said he believes Iran and the US will reach an agreement after the upcoming midterm election because it makes sense for both sides. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is at UNGA, but no meeting has been scheduled yet. ## Cuba also faces Trump threats Trump called Cuba an absolutely failed state that will fall and said his administration will not allow it to be a haven for foreign adversaries. Members of the Cuban delegation walked out of the chamber in response. ## Greenland deal replaces takeover threat Trump announced a new agreement with Denmark that significantly increases US military presence in Greenland. This represents a compromise after he repeatedly threatened to take the territory by force over the past year. > It's been a great experience, amazing experience, and we've really formed a bond in doing it. ## Trump praises UN budget cuts Trump toned down his usual criticism of the UN, praising it for cutting its budget under US pressure. He said the institution has great potential but must stop imposing what he called a far-left globalist agenda. ## Trump attacks International Criminal Court Trump called the International Criminal Court an evil group of people and urged countries to resign from what he termed a rogue institution. He reserved far more criticism for the ICC than for the UN itself. ## Trump rebrands AI as superintelligence Trump spent time arguing that artificial intelligence should be called superintelligence instead, saying the word artificial makes it sound fake. He emphasized that whoever wins superintelligence wins globally. > The use of the word 'artificial' makes intelligence sound fake, and it is not fake. It's actually amazing. ## Guterres calls for multilateral unity Outgoing UN Secretary-General António Guterres delivered an impassioned speech calling for preservation of multilateral institutions against fragmentation. He urged superpowers to recognize that their power isn't absolute. > A recognition, especially by superpowers, that their power isn't so super. ## Guterres defends international law Guterres urged the UN to recommit to its charter and principles, saying the test is whether power will be exercised with the law or beyond it. He called for defending the charter without double standards. > The test before us is whether power will be exercised with the law, or beyond it. And we must pass that test. ## Guterres promises to keep fighting In closing remarks that drew a standing ovation, Guterres promised to continue championing peace even after leaving office. He said he will never give up on his conviction that peace is possible. > Wherever I will be, whatever I will be doing, I will keep championing the conviction that peace is possible. ## Trump blames Ukraine for energy crisis During a meeting with Zelensky, Trump said he supports a ban on US diesel exports and blamed the Russia-Ukraine war for record-high oil prices. He urged Kyiv to stop targeting Russian energy infrastructure. ## Estonia pushes back on Trump's claim Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna told reporters that Russia bears responsibility for the energy crisis, not Ukraine. He noted that Zelensky has said he would agree to an energy ceasefire if Putin would. > The responsibility lies on Russia because Zelensky has said that if Putin is ready to have an energy cease-fire, that he's ready to do it. ## Europe faces severe energy vulnerability The EU's climate chief said Europe imports roughly eighty percent of its gas and ninety-five percent of its oil, making it dramatically vulnerable. He said the only long-term solution is more clean, European-made energy. > If you look at the numbers, you see immediately how dramatically vulnerable Europe is. ## Zelensky signals openness to trilateral talks At a press conference, Zelensky said he is willing to attend a trilateral meeting with Trump and Putin. He emphasized that Ukraine wants to end the war but questioned whether Russia is ready. > I want to end the war. The person who is not ready for a trilateral meeting is not ready to end the war. ## Zelensky questions Russia's commitment Zelensky said that if Russia will not support a ceasefire, it means Russia is not ready to stop the war. He noted that Ukraine has said yes to talks but has not heard yes from Russia. > If you will not support a cease-fire, it means that you are not ready to stop the war. ## More speakers take the stage Wednesday The UNGA debate continues with Iran's Pezeshkian expected to counter Trump's threats, along with leaders from Syria, Ukraine, Argentina, and Kenya. Zelensky will have the opportunity to address the assembly. ## Key takeaway The UN is fracturing between those who see power as absolute and those who believe it must operate within international law.