Trump says Iran will never have nuclear weapons, deal with Tehran possible after midterms

UNITED NATIONS: US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he believed the United States would reach a deal with Iran after the US midterm elections, while warning Tehran that it would never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon.

Addressing the opening session of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, Trump said negotiations had been initiated to stop Iran’s nuclear programme but Tehran had rejected them.

“Iran will never have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said, offering Iran what he described as a potential deal while warning of further consequences if it refused.

“I believe we’ll make a deal with Iran right after the US election,” he said.

Trump also called for countries to maintain pressure on Tehran, urging them to participate in an economic boycott of Iran.

“We must be united in maintaining pressure on Iran,” he said.

Trump said Iran continued to develop ballistic missiles and accused Tehran of attacking and threatening commercial vessels.

He also claimed that Iran’s military capabilities had been severely degraded during US military operations, saying its navy and air force had been largely destroyed.

Trump said the Iranian economy was in a severely weakened state and claimed inflation in the country stood at 300 per cent.

‘More oil passing through Strait of Hormuz now‘

On the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said more oil was now passing through the strategic waterway and claimed US naval forces had provided security for vessels carrying more than one billion barrels of oil.

He said US forces were moving increasing numbers of vessels through the strait each day.

Trump also said Iran had violated a ceasefire agreement by attacking commercial vessels.

The US president said he had a decision to make regarding Iran but did not provide further details.

His remarks came as Washington and Tehran signalled possible interest in reviving diplomatic negotiations. Reuters reported that Iran had indicated it was prepared to discuss reopening the Strait of Hormuz if the United States reduced military pressure and lifted port blockades.

‘I stopped eight wars’

Trump also highlighted what he described as his administration’s role in ending several conflicts.

“I stopped eight wars,” Trump said, adding that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had told him he had done a good job.

He specifically cited the conflict between Pakistan and India, saying he had helped stop the fighting, as well as ceasefire efforts involving Congo and Rwanda and the Gaza conflict.

Prime Minister Shehbaz is attending the UN General Assembly and is scheduled to address the 193-member assembly on September 25, according to Pakistan’s government.

Trump said that his administration had stopped eight wars, including conflicts between Pakistan and India and in Congo and Rwanda, while also praising Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

He said he had also brokered a ceasefire in Gaza, where he said the situation had been particularly difficult.

He also claimed credit for the ceasefire in Gaza, saying the situation there had been very bad.

“A year ago, there was no hope in sight for resolving the Gaza crisis,” Trump said.

He said his administration had succeeded in ending the Gaza war and saving thousands of lives.

Trump also praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, saying the Pakistani premier had told him that he had done a good job.

“Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said I did a good job,” Trump said.

‘Iran cannot have nuclear weapons’

Trump again said that Iran could not be allowed to possess nuclear weapons, adding that Washington was considering whether to reach a deal with Tehran or destroy its capabilities.

“My mind is focused on one thing: Iran cannot have nuclear weapons,” Trump said.

He said the Iranian government was weak and warned that major changes could happen rapidly.

“Big changes can happen very quickly,” he said, adding that the United States would end the war with Iran “one way or another”.

Trump said he faced a major decision over Iran, asking whether he should make a deal that would allow the country to become “a very great state” or completely destroy it.

“We are reviewing the option of reaching a deal with Iran or destroying it,” Trump said.

US to end Ukraine and Russia war

On the war in Ukraine, Trump said the United States was working to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine as soon as possible.

“It is time to stop the bloodshed caused by the Russia-Ukraine war,” he said, adding that a ceasefire agreement between the two sides would be reached soon.

Trump renames AI as SI

Turning to artificial intelligence, Trump said AI had been renamed “super intelligence”, or “SI”, and declared: “Welcome to the world of super intelligence.”

He said the United States would not halt its ongoing work to develop super intelligence, dismissing concerns that the technology was dangerous as a “scam” and “fraud”.

Trump slams ICC

Trump also criticised the International Criminal Court and called on all countries to withdraw from it.

“The United States strongly and completely opposes the International Criminal Court,” he said.

Trump also accused several United Nations bodies of promoting left-wing ideologies.

He described drug cartels in the western hemisphere as being similar to Islamic State militants and said Cuba was a failed state that would “fall apart”.

During Trump’s speech, the Cuban delegation walked out of the General Assembly hall in protest.

Agreement with Greenland

Trump said that the United States would sign an agreement on Greenland, claiming the deal would strengthen NATO as well as US and European security.

“We will sign the Greenland agreement today,” Trump said.

Trump said the agreement would provide greater stability to NATO and US and European security.

He also said the United States would establish two US bases in Greenland.

Turning to the war in Ukraine, Trump said Washington wanted to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

“We want to end the Russia-Ukraine war,” he said, adding that the time had come to stop the bloodshed caused by the conflict.

Trump said a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine would be reached soon.