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Iran23 September, 20262 min read

Trump Tells UNGA He Can Annihilate Iran, After Talks With Steve Witkoff Via Qatar Mediator

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Three-hour UN sidelines talks between U.S. and Iran described as very productive. Trump warned of annihilating Iran, but indicated potential deal ending the war.

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Trump Tells UNGA He Can Annihilate Iran, After Talks With Steve Witkoff Via Qatar Mediator
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UNGA diplomacy under threat

President Donald Trump told the United Nations General Assembly he faces a "big decision" on whether to strike Iran again or pursue a peace deal, and he said he could "annihilate" the Islamic Republic if the conflict went unresolved. Trump also said he believed an Iran deal would come right after November's elections, and he asked: "Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?"

Iran state TV confirmed that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said negotiations took part through a Qatari mediator who communicated Tehran's conditions. Witkoff later confirmed on X that the talks had been held "through the mediators, who shuttled between the two sides throughout the day," and he said the mediators would continue their work.

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Image: Aajil
Reporting for this sectionBBC

Qatar mediation and conditions

Qatar mediated the meeting between U.S. and Iranian representatives on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Iranian state-run news agency IRNA. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei told IRNA Tuesday night that the interaction took place through Qatari mediation, saying: "The interaction that took place was through Qatari mediation."

Witkoff said the mediators "successfully completed a round of discussions" and that their work will continue, while the ABC report said it was unclear exactly who was mediating on behalf of the U.S. and who from the Iranian delegation participated. The BBC reported that Esmail Baghaei said the mediators communicated Tehran's conditions, including an end to the war on all fronts and to US "acts of aggression."

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Image: ABC News
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War stakes and regional spillover

CBS News said the U.S. and Iran held first talks since June after Trump threatened regime with annihilation, and it reported that Iranian President Masoud Pezeskhian told the United Nations General Assembly: "We have been the victims of terrorism." CBS News also reported that a cargo vessel was struck by an unknown projectile in the Strait of Hormuz Wednesday, leaving the vessel "on fire and adrift," and it said "All crew have been evacuated with two casualties reported."

CBS News counted the total number of U.S. military personnel killed during the war with Iran as 19, and it said the tally includes deaths recorded by the Pentagon as occurring as part of Operation Epic Fury. CBS News further reported that the Iran-backed Houthi rebels threatened Wednesday to "close Bab el-Mandeb completely to American ships" if Washington joins Saudi-led military operations against the group in Yemen.

Reporting for this sectionCBS News