Trump to UN: 'Do I Annihilate' Iran?

President Trump addressed the UN General Assembly on Tuesday and reiterated a familiar theme in stark terms: "I have a big decision to make,″ he said. "Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before?" he asked, per the Guardian. "Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?" In the New York Times live coverage of the speech, David E. Sanger wrote that it "was a remarkable moment: a threat from the UN floor, by a world leader, to wipe out an entire nation."

Trump also threatened to "drive them into hell with no chance of survival," notes NBC News. He stressed in his speech that Tehran cannot be allowed to possess a nuclear weapon, a line that drew applause. Trump predicted that the US and Iran would make a deal after the midterm elections, adding, "They're waiting to see how I do."