US President Donald Trump used his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 22 to defend US military action against Iran, warn Tehran over its nuclear programme and outline his positions on the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.
The speech came as world leaders gathered for the annual UN General Debate amid continuing conflicts in the Middle East and Europe. Trump devoted substantial attention to Iran, while also discussing Gaza, Russia’s war against Ukraine, US relations with other countries and the future of artificial intelligence.
The address was one of the central diplomatic events of the opening days of the General Assembly, where representatives of the UN’s 193 member states are scheduled to present their positions on major international issues.
Trump defends US military action against Iran
Iran was the dominant foreign-policy issue in Trump’s speech.
The US president defended military action against Iran, saying his administration had acted to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He also called for continued economic pressure on Iran.
Trump said he faced a choice between reaching a settlement with Iran and taking substantially more military action if an agreement could not be reached.
Reuters reported that Trump warned he could “annihilate” Iran if there was no peace agreement, while also indicating that he believed a diplomatic settlement could eventually be reached.
The comments came while Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian and an Iranian delegation were in New York for the General Assembly.
The conflict has already affected energy markets and raised concerns about the security of major Middle Eastern shipping routes. The wider consequences of the confrontation were therefore closely watched by governments and businesses beyond the region.
Trump says Iran must not obtain nuclear weapon
Trump repeated his long-standing position that Iran must not acquire a nuclear weapon.
In his UN remarks, he described Iran as a major security threat and linked his administration’s military actions to the objective of preventing Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons.
The Iranian government has disputed US accounts of the conflict and has criticised Washington’s military actions.
The UN General Assembly therefore provided a public setting for the two sides’ competing positions, although the Iranian delegation’s response was sharply critical of Trump’s remarks.
Gaza remains a major issue at the UN
Trump also addressed the war in Gaza and said his administration had helped bring the conflict to an end.
His comments came as the Gaza war remained one of the most prominent issues at the General Assembly, with several governments using their speeches to discuss Palestinian statehood, civilian protection and the humanitarian consequences of the conflict.
Trump presented the situation as part of a wider record of diplomatic and military actions undertaken by his administration.
However, the broader international debate over Gaza remains unresolved, with governments differing sharply over Israel’s military campaign, Palestinian statehood, Hamas, humanitarian access and the terms of any long-term political settlement.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in his final General Assembly address as secretary-general, called for adherence to international law and greater protection of civilians amid conflicts including Gaza and Ukraine.
Ukraine war also features in Trump’s address
Russia’s war against Ukraine was another major subject.
Trump said he believed the conflict could be brought to an end through diplomacy and expressed frustration with the continuing fighting.
The president has repeatedly said that ending the war is a major foreign-policy objective of his administration.
The remarks came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was also in New York for the General Assembly and held diplomatic meetings on the sidelines of the event. Ukraine has continued seeking international support while pressing for measures aimed at limiting Russia’s ability to sustain its military campaign.
The United States has remained a central actor in diplomatic discussions surrounding the conflict.
However, the war continues and the positions of Moscow and Kyiv remain substantially different on territory, security guarantees and the terms of a possible settlement.
Trump presents broader US foreign-policy agenda
Beyond the three major conflicts, Trump used the speech to present a broader account of his administration’s foreign policy.
He argued that US military and economic power should be used more directly to protect American interests.
The White House described the speech as a message that the United States had returned to a stronger international posture and highlighted Trump’s emphasis on sovereignty, national security and US military strength.
Trump also criticised several international institutions and called for changes to the way parts of the United Nations system operate.
His remarks reflected the administration’s broader criticism of multilateral institutions that it considers inefficient or insufficiently aligned with US interests.
Trump announces change in terminology for AI
Artificial intelligence also featured unexpectedly prominently in the address.
Trump announced that US government documents would refer to artificial intelligence as “super intelligence”, according to reporting from Axios.
He argued for continued US leadership in advanced technology and opposed what he described as excessive restrictions on the development of AI.
The comments placed technology alongside war, diplomacy and national security as part of the administration’s broader international agenda.
AI governance has become an increasingly important issue at the United Nations, with governments debating questions involving safety, economic competition, military applications, data and international regulation.
UN chief calls for cooperation
Trump’s speech took place against a broader message from UN Secretary-General António Guterres calling for international cooperation.
Guterres warned that geopolitical divisions and weakening trust were making it more difficult for governments to address global crises.
He also criticised the erosion of international law and called for reforms to global institutions, including greater representation for Africa on the UN Security Council.
The contrast in emphasis was notable.
Trump focused heavily on US national power, military capability and direct action, while Guterres stressed multilateral cooperation and the importance of international institutions.
Both speeches addressed the same global conflicts but placed different emphasis on how those problems should be addressed.
Iran conflict casts shadow over global energy markets
The US-Iran conflict has consequences beyond military and diplomatic relations.
The Middle East remains central to global energy supplies, and disruptions involving oil-producing countries or important maritime routes can affect crude oil prices, shipping costs and inflation in countries that depend on imported energy.
Associated Press reported that Middle Eastern conflicts dominated discussions at the UN General Assembly while the US-Iran confrontation continued alongside fighting involving other regional actors.
For countries such as Nigeria, which is both an oil producer and an importer of some refined petroleum products, changes in international crude prices can have domestic economic implications.
The effect depends on factors including crude export earnings, exchange rates, domestic refining capacity and the prices of petroleum products.
Diplomatic pressure remains alongside military threats
Despite the forceful language in Trump’s speech, the president also left open the possibility of diplomacy with Iran.
Reuters reported that Trump said he believed a deal could still be reached and suggested that negotiations could eventually produce a settlement.
That combination of military pressure and a stated willingness to negotiate has become a recurring feature of the US administration’s approach to Iran.
For Tehran, however, the continuation of US military operations and sanctions has complicated the prospect of renewed negotiations.
Iranian officials have criticised Washington’s actions and questioned the reliability of negotiations following military escalation.
Iran’s delegation responds
The Iranian delegation objected to Trump’s remarks during the General Assembly.
The Associated Press reported that Iranian delegates walked out during Trump’s speech as he criticised Iran and defended US military action.
The episode underscored the depth of the dispute between Washington and Tehran.
Iran’s presence at the General Assembly nevertheless provided an opportunity for its representatives to present their own position during the wider UN debate.
The confrontation between the two countries remains one of the most significant security issues facing the international community.
What Trump’s speech means for the UN debate
Trump’s address placed several of the world’s most consequential conflicts at the centre of the 2026 General Assembly.
Iran, Gaza and Ukraine each involve different actors and circumstances, but all three have broader implications for international security, energy markets, diplomacy and the global economy.
The speech also demonstrated the continuing disagreement over the role of the United States in the international system and the role of multilateral institutions such as the United Nations.
As the General Assembly continues, other governments are expected to outline their positions on the conflicts and on issues including climate change, development, artificial intelligence, global trade and international security.
For now, Trump’s address has reinforced the prominence of the Iran conflict at this year’s UN gathering while keeping Gaza and Ukraine high on the diplomatic agenda.
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