UNITED NATIONS — US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he expects Washington to reach a deal with Iran after the November midterm elections, while warning that he faces a “big decision” over whether to pursue an agreement or take further military action against Tehran.Speaking at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Trump presented the choice in stark terms, saying an agreement could allow Iran to rebuild its country, while the alternative could involve further US military action.“I have a big decision to make,” Trump said, before raising the prospect of either reaching an agreement with Tehran or moving to “annihilate” the Islamic Republic.Trump said he believed an agreement would be reached after the US midterm elections on Nov. 3, arguing that Tehran was waiting to see how Republicans performed at the polls.“What they don’t realize is that I’m not running. I did that already and won in a landslide,” Trump said, adding that the election would not influence his approach toward Iran.“The only thing that does is that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon,” he said.Trump said his administration had opened negotiations with Tehran after he returned to office and offered economic cooperation in return for restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities and an end to its support for terrorism, but said Tehran rejected the proposal.He again claimed that US military operations had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program, and defended his decision to use military force after failed efforts to reach an agreement.“After giving Iran every chance for a deal, I took action to ensure that neither the United States nor any nation at all would ever have to face such a nightmare,” Trump said.Trump also made a series of claims about the damage inflicted on Iran’s military capabilities, saying its naval vessels, air force, radar and air defense systems had been destroyed and that its missile and drone manufacturing capacity had been severely degraded.He further claimed Iran’s economy had been devastated and inflation had risen above 300%.Trump accused Tehran of violating a ceasefire linked to nuclear discussions by attacking civilian vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.His remarks came as both Washington and Tehran signaled potential openness to renewed diplomacy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that Washington was open to talks with Iranian representatives, although no meeting had been scheduled.Trump also rejected suggestions that the United States was running short of munitions, saying Washington had more than it could “ever possibly even think of using” and was expanding its stockpiles.UNITED NATIONS — US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he expects Washington to reach a deal with Iran after the November midterm elections, while warning that he faces a “big decision” over whether to pursue an agreement or take further military action against Tehran.Speaking at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly in New York, Trump presented the choice in stark terms, saying an agreement could allow Iran to rebuild its country, while the alternative could involve further US military action.“I have a big decision to make,” Trump said, before raising the prospect of either reaching an agreement with Tehran or moving to “annihilate” the Islamic Republic.Trump said he believed an agreement would be reached after the US midterm elections on Nov. 3, arguing that Tehran was waiting to see how Republicans performed at the polls.“What they don’t realize is that I’m not running. I did that already and won in a landslide,” Trump said, adding that the election would not influence his approach toward Iran.“The only thing that does is that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon,” he said.Trump said his administration had opened negotiations with Tehran after he returned to office and offered economic cooperation in return for restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activities and an end to its support for terrorism, but said Tehran rejected the proposal.He again claimed that US military operations had “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program, and defended his decision to use military force after failed efforts to reach an agreement.“After giving Iran every chance for a deal, I took action to ensure that neither the United States nor any nation at all would ever have to face such a nightmare,” Trump said.Trump also made a series of claims about the damage inflicted on Iran’s military capabilities, saying its naval vessels, air force, radar and air defense systems had been destroyed and that its missile and drone manufacturing capacity had been severely degraded.He further claimed Iran’s economy had been devastated and inflation had risen above 300%.Trump accused Tehran of violating a ceasefire linked to nuclear discussions by attacking civilian vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.His remarks came as both Washington and Tehran signaled potential openness to renewed diplomacy on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Tuesday that Washington was open to talks with Iranian representatives, although no meeting had been scheduled.Trump also rejected suggestions that the United States was running short of munitions, saying Washington had more than it could “ever possibly even think of using” and was expanding its stockpiles.
Trump expects Iran deal after US midterms
