UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 22 — U.S. President Donald Trump defended his administration’s military actions against Iran and Venezuela in a forceful address to the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, warning that he could “annihilate” Iran if no deal is reached to end the war.

Trump said he had a choice between reaching an agreement with Iran and destroying the Islamic Republic.

“I have a big decision to make,” Trump said. “Will a deal be made with Iran …? Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly?”

He also said he believed an agreement with Iran could be reached after the Nov. 3 U.S. midterm elections. Reuters reported that diplomatic efforts to end the conflict continued alongside Trump’s public threats, with U.S. and Iranian officials holding talks through mediators at the U.N.

Trump devoted part of his 37-minute speech to Venezuela, where he defended the U.S. military operation that led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro earlier this year.

He said the United States had subsequently reached what he described as a historic oil agreement covering 65 billion barrels. Trump said the United States and Venezuela together controlled more than 60% of the world’s oil.

“It was a war, but it’s perhaps the biggest deal ever made — to the victor belong the spoils,” Trump said, according to a transcript of the speech.

Trump said the U.S. action in Venezuela demonstrated that Washington would not allow threats to gain a foothold in the Western Hemisphere. He added that the United States would use its “unmatched military might” when necessary to protect its vital national interests.

The speech marked a broad defense of Trump’s foreign-policy approach, which has increasingly relied on U.S. military power.

Trump also attacked the International Criminal Court, urging its member states to withdraw. He said the United States would not allow its military personnel to be subjected to what he called politically motivated proceedings by an institution he described as hostile to the United States.

On artificial intelligence, Trump rejected calls for tighter international regulation, saying the United States should not restrict the growth of a technology he compared in importance with the Industrial Revolution.

He also criticized the United Nations and defended his administration’s efforts to cut its bureaucracy and reduce U.S. support for some international initiatives.

Trump’s speech came as diplomats at the United Nations continued efforts to find a path toward ending the Iran conflict. Despite his warning of possible escalation, Trump said he remained open to a deal with Tehran.

Main source:

• Reuters: Trump warns in UN speech he could ‘annihilate’ Iran without peace deal — the main news report on Trump’s Sept. 22, 2026 U.N. speech.