Trump tells UN he has 'big decision' on whether to 'annihilate' Iran or make peace deal

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be played

Watch: Trump threatens to 'annihilate' Iran if no deal reached

President Donald Trump has told the United Nations General Assembly he faces a "big decision" on whether to strike Iran again or pursue a peace deal.

A single member of Iran's delegation watched on during the president's speech in New York, in which he said he could "annihilate" the Islamic Republic if the conflict went unresolved.

Before a standing-room-only audience, Trump also rejected "global government", vowed to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine and ensure the US wins the artificial intelligence race.

His tone contrasted with remarks earlier by UN Secretary General António Guterres, who warned global divisions were deepening and underscored the "interdependence" of the world's peoples.

Trump's speech on Tuesday came on a day of high-level diplomacy at the United Nations. He's meeting more than a dozen world leaders as wars in the Middle East and Ukraine test his foreign policy agenda.

He began by touting his accomplishments on the economy, immigration, the border and tackling violent crime, in remarks that sounded more pitched to voters in November's US midterm elections than the diplomats in Manhattan.

He spent much of his address justifying the war with Iran, which has spiked global oil prices while dragging down his approval ratings since the US and Israel launched the military action in February.

Image source, EPAImage caption, Trump also signed a deal with Denmark to beef up US military presence on Greenland

Trump argued that the conflict had prevented Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and demonstrated the value of what he described as peace through strength - ultimatums rather than deal-making or compromise.

"Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before?" he said.

"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?"

Trump said he believed an Iran deal, which has so far eluded him, would come right after November's elections.

The remarks were indicative of his foreign-policy strategy of coercive diplomacy - threatening overwhelming force while keeping negotiations open.

Trump later told reporters that American officials had had a "very productive" three-hour meeting with the Iranian delegation on the sidelines of the general assembly.

Iran state TV confirmed that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had met US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, although there was no comment from officials in Tehran.

In his speech, Trump once again predicted his diplomacy would end Russia's war in Ukraine, which has shown little sign of letting up as the two sides trade tit-for-tat missile and drone strikes deep into each other's territory.

"We're working very closely with the leaders of Russia and Ukraine, and we will get that one done," Trump said. "It's going to happen, I think, more quickly than people understand."

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be played

Watch: Moment Trump rebrands Artificial Intelligence to Super Intelligence

Trump also played down fears about AI, vowing that the US would not surrender its lead to China because of alarmism or what he described as a "globalist scheme" to control the technology.

The US president argued artificial intelligence should instead be known as "super intelligence".

"The use of the word artificial makes it sound fake," he said. "It's not fake, it's actually amazing. But we have to be careful."

On the sidelines of the general assembly on Tuesday, Trump signed an agreement with the leaders of Denmark and Greenland to beef up US military presence on the North Atlantic island.

The deal reaffirms the sovereignty of Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark, but grants the US broad access to the island's airspace and territory.

Image source, ReutersImage caption, Britain's PM Andy Burnham held his first face-to-face meeting with Trump

Trump is also meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and leaders from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman.

Earlier, Guterres gave his farewell speech as UN secretary general, urging unnamed superpowers to recognise "that their power isn't so super".

"The fault lines in our world are widening," Guterres said, citing geopolitical rivalries, wars, climate change and artificial intelligence.

By contrast, Trump criticised international institutions, accusing the UN of a "far-left agenda of globalist bureaucrats who nobody ever elected".

The US president instead emphasised national sovereignty and "unmatched" American military power.

"There is no global government," he said.

He also warned that the US would not allow threats to establish themselves anywhere in the Western hemisphere.

"If necessary, we will use our unmatched military might to secure the vital national interests of the United States," he said.

Trump accused Cuba's communist government of cultivating ties to left-wing groups in the US, including the Communist Party USA, Antifa and the Democratic Socialists of America.

The Cuban delegation also appeared to walk out of the assembly chamber as Trump turned his sights on them, referring to the island as a "failed state".

To play this video you need to enable JavaScript in your browser.This video can not be played

Watch: Cuban delegation walks out during Trump's UN speech

US to build two military bases in Greenland under new deal with Denmark

The video playlistWatch our pick of standout clips from across the BBC

PreviousNext0:32Cuban delegates walk out during Trump speech. 00:00:32, play videoCuban delegates walk out during Trump speech1:02Why was the Kent meningitis outbreak so severe? 00:01:02, play videoWhy was the Kent meningitis outbreak so severe?1:23Double strike near crowded market in Yemen. 00:01:23, play videoDouble strike near crowded market in Yemen0:15Six-year-old girl breaks Rubik's Cube world record. 00:00:15, play videoSix-year-old girl breaks Rubik's Cube world record1:13Meet the wildcats roaming in Scotland. 00:01:13, play videoMeet the wildcats roaming in Scotland1:56'I was turned away from the Army over childhood eye surgery' 00:01:56, play video'I was turned away from the Army over childhood eye surgery'0:40Burnham and Trump to have first face-to-face meeting. 00:00:40, play videoBurnham and Trump to have first face-to-face meeting1:17Why is the Bab al-Mandab Strait so important? 00:01:17, play videoWhy is the Bab al-Mandab Strait so important?0:58Are vet bills about to get cheaper? 00:00:58, play videoAre vet bills about to get cheaper?0:57Rubik's Cube inventor: 'My average time was one minute' 00:00:57, play videoRubik's Cube inventor: 'My average time was one minute'0:53Top foods to stock up on in case of shortages. 00:00:53, play videoTop foods to stock up on in case of shortages0:43Should Lib Dems copy other parties to get more attention? 00:00:43, play videoShould Lib Dems copy other parties to get more attention?1:03The biggest myths in professional wrestling. 00:01:03, play videoThe biggest myths in professional wrestling2:03'Other generations just buried mental health issues' 00:02:03, play video'Other generations just buried mental health issues'0:50What are Infantino's latest Fifa proposals? 00:00:50, play videoWhat are Infantino's latest Fifa proposals?0:49Diana book row casts shadow over Prince Harry's events. 00:00:49, play videoDiana book row casts shadow over Prince Harry's events0:53How 'box breathing' can help with stress. 00:00:53, play videoHow 'box breathing' can help with stress1:05Why victims are having to wait longer for rape trials. 00:01:05, play videoWhy victims are having to wait longer for rape trials1:01Why do we love whodunits?⁣ 00:01:01, play videoWhy do we love whodunits?⁣1:40Apple Maps blurs detention facilities in China. 00:01:40, play videoApple Maps blurs detention facilities in ChinaTop storiesTrump says he can do business with Burnham but criticises 'terrible' Chagos deal

Burnham 'gets it' says Trump, as the two leaders meet for first time

Plot targeting Manchester's Jewish community disrupted, say police

Student who accidentally overdosed on paracetamol learns to walk and talk again

Can you take the 'London' out of London Fashion Week?

The 'selfless decision' that saved our boy's life

Scientists discover why Kent meningitis outbreak was so severe

I couldn't cook when I left home – but these easy £2.50 recipes became my go-to

New right to bereavement leave to cover step and half relatives

Cat reunited with owners six years after going missing in car crash

'He's always been by my side - now he's given me his kidney'

Royal Watch: Get the latest royal stories and analysis with Sean Coughlan’s weekly newsletter

Stacey Dooley uncovers the truth behind online health trends

Princess Diana: Behind closed doors

First look: The final chapter in the mystery trilogy starts this Saturday

How Prince Alwaleed bin Talal built his fortune betting against the crowd

Earl Spencer should pull Diana book from shelves, Piers Morgan says

Father admits causing death of his son in hotel fall

Tim Westwood charged with two more sexual offences

Autopsy shows Hayden Panettiere died from a drug overdose

Student who accidentally overdosed on paracetamol learns to walk and talk again

Booker Prize judges reveal shortlisted novels after selection 'tussle'

'Looksmaxxing' influencer Clavicular charged with rape in Massachusetts

Plot targeting Manchester's Jewish community disrupted, say police

US to build two military bases in Greenland under new deal with Denmark

New EU industry rules would damage UK, warns Burnham