At the UN, Donald Trump declared himself a peacemaker, but warned that he could “annihilate” Iran if no agreement is reached

In the speech delivered Tuesday at the UN General Assembly, President Donald Trump adopted a contradictory position toward Iran. He presented himself as a peacemaker, but simultaneously threatened that he could “annihilate” the Islamic Republic if negotiations failed.

Trump said he had to choose between an agreement that would allow Iran to rebuild and become a major power in the Middle East or rapid military action against the country. The president stated that the midterm elections would not influence his decisions regarding the war in Iran.

The speech reflects the foreign policy style of Trump’s second term: mediation efforts in the war in Ukraine, but also attacks on Tehran, the capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, and strikes on vessels suspected of narcoterrorist activities in the Caribbean.