United States President Donald Trump has threatened to “annihilate” Iran if Tehran fails to reach a deal with Washington, as he defended the US military campaign against the Islamic Republic in an address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly.
Trump said the United States had given Iran several opportunities to reach an agreement before launching military action, arguing that the operation was necessary to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.
“I have a big decision to make. Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before? Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly,” Trump said.
He added that the choice was between allowing Iran to rebuild or destroying its capacity to “kill and destroy people and countries again.”
Trump described Iran as the “world’s number one sponsor of terror” and said he would never allow the country to acquire a nuclear weapon.
“I will never let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” he said.
The US president also accused Iran’s leadership of celebrating the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States and described the Iranian government as a “vile regime.”
Trump said Iran had developed a missile capable of reaching Europe and argued that the threat posed by its nuclear and missile programmes justified the US military campaign.
Defending Operation Epic Fury, Trump claimed that the US had destroyed 159 Iranian ships and severely damaged the country’s economy and military capabilities.
“As a result of Operation Epic Fury, 159 of their ships are at the bottom of the sea,” Trump said.
He also claimed that Iran’s weapons capabilities had been destroyed and that the country was now facing severe economic pressure.
Trump urged other countries to join the United States in economically isolating Iran to force its government to negotiate.
His remarks came as the war between the United States, Israel and Iran continues to disrupt energy supplies and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, with the conflict having wider economic consequences.
Trump said he believed a deal with Iran could still be reached after the November 3 US midterm elections, while leaving open the possibility of further military action if negotiations fail.
The Iranian delegation was reported to have walked out of the UN General Assembly chamber during Trump’s address, underscoring the continuing diplomatic tensions between Washington and Tehran.
