Iran Delegation Walks Out as Trump Threatens to ‘Annihilate’ Islamic Republic

Iran Delegation Walks Out as Trump Threatens to ‘Annihilate’ Islamic Republic

Members of the Iranian delegation walked out of the United Nations General Assembly during US President Donald Trump’s address after he threatened to “annihilate” the Islamic Republic if Washington and Tehran fail to reach an agreement to end the conflict.

The dramatic walkout occurred on Tuesday, September 22, during the opening day of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) in New York, where Trump devoted a significant portion of his speech to defending the US military campaign against Iran.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who were in New York for the annual UN meeting, did not attend Trump’s address in the General Assembly chamber. Most members of Iran’s delegation who were present left the hall about 10 minutes into the speech, while a lower-ranking Iranian diplomat remained in the chamber.

Trump used the address to defend the US military action against Iran, arguing that the campaign had prevented Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

He said Washington faced a choice between reaching an agreement that would allow Iran to rebuild and taking further military action against the country.

Trump asked whether a deal would allow Iran to become “a far greater country” or whether the United States should “annihilate the Islamic Republic” and “drive them into hell with no chance of survival.”

The remarks represented a fresh escalation in Trump’s public warnings against Iran, although he simultaneously indicated that he expected diplomacy to eventually produce an agreement.

Trump said he believed a deal could be reached after the November 3 US midterm elections, while insisting that the election would not determine his administration’s policy towards Iran.

He also called on other countries to join the United States in imposing economic pressure on Tehran, arguing that international isolation would increase pressure on the Iranian government to negotiate.

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The Iranian delegation’s departure provided a visible response to the remarks and underscored the continuing diplomatic divide between Washington and Tehran. Reports from the General Assembly said the delegation left as Trump moved into his warnings about the Iranian government and its nuclear programme.

The walkout came despite continuing diplomatic contacts between the two countries on the sidelines of the UN gathering.

Shortly after his speech, Trump said US officials had held what he described as a “very good” and productive meeting involving Iranian representatives and mediators.

He later clarified that US special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner had met with mediators involved in the Iranian discussions, rather than necessarily holding a direct meeting with Iranian officials themselves.

Reuters reported that Trump subsequently said he believed a settlement between the United States and Iran would eventually be reached.

The diplomatic activity has highlighted the conflicting tracks surrounding the US-Iran conflict: public threats and military pressure on one side, and continued efforts to negotiate an end to the confrontation on the other.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had earlier confirmed that Washington was open to meeting Iranian representatives at the UN, although he said at the time that no formal meeting had been scheduled. Rubio said any engagement would need to address the US objective of preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Arab countries have also been involved in efforts to facilitate communication between Washington and Tehran.

Qatar, which has previously played a mediating role in regional disputes, has urged both sides to pursue diplomacy. Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani told the General Assembly that the Gulf was experiencing a dangerous period and argued that the crisis could be addressed through diplomatic means, including efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to maritime navigation.

The strategic waterway has become a major issue in the conflict because of its importance to international energy and shipping.

Iran has reportedly linked the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to conditions including an end to the naval blockade, the release of frozen Iranian assets and an end to hostilities across the various fronts involved in the conflict.

The demands illustrate the substantial gap between Tehran’s conditions and Washington’s position, particularly over Iran’s nuclear programme and the future of military and economic pressure.

Trump’s UN speech also sought to rally international support for his administration’s approach to Iran.

He argued that previous US administrations had failed to adequately confront Tehran and maintained that his administration’s military campaign had prevented Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Iran has rejected the US military campaign and continued to call for diplomatic efforts to address the conflict on terms acceptable to Tehran.

The presence of both diplomatic contacts and military threats has created uncertainty over whether the latest negotiations can produce a lasting settlement.

The Iran nuclear dispute remains at the centre of the confrontation, with Washington insisting that Tehran must not obtain a nuclear weapon while Iran has maintained that its rights and national interests must be respected in any negotiations.

Trump’s remarks also came as the United States sought broader international support for its position.

During the same UN address, he criticised Cuba and said its communist government was failing, prompting members of the Cuban delegation to leave the chamber as well.

The Iranian walkout, however, was particularly significant because it occurred during Trump’s direct warnings against Tehran and came as mediators were working to bring the two sides closer to negotiations.

The developments have placed the UN General Assembly at the centre of renewed diplomatic activity surrounding the conflict.

Pezeshkian’s expected appearance before the General Assembly provides Tehran with an opportunity to present its position on the war, the nuclear dispute and the conditions it considers necessary for diplomacy.

For Washington, the priority remains preventing Iran from developing or obtaining a nuclear weapon, while Trump has continued to combine military pressure with calls for a negotiated settlement.

The immediate outcome of the latest diplomatic efforts remains uncertain. Trump has said he expects an eventual settlement, while significant differences remain over the conditions for ending the conflict and reopening key regional waterways.

For now, the Iranian delegation’s walkout has become one of the most visible moments of UNGA 81, highlighting the sharp tensions between Washington and Tehran even as officials and mediators continue to explore a possible diplomatic path.

Iran Delegation Walks Out as Trump Threatens to ‘Annihilate’ Islamic Republic