President Donald Trump revealed a major decision he is considering in the conflict with Iran during his Sept. 22 address to the U.N. General Assembly.

In his speech, Trump reiterated his administration’s position that Iran cannot be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon and outlined how the U.S. military has targeted Iran’s navy, missile capabilities, and nuclear development.

“But now I have a big decision to make: Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before, maybe one of the greatest in the Middle East or even the world?” Trump said on Sept. 22.

“Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again? Do I drive them into hell with no chance of survival and no hope of future greatness or generations?”

The president detailed the two options he is considering as the Iranian delegation at the U.N. watched his speech on Sept. 22.

Trump told the U.N. that he believes the United States and Iran will make a deal shortly after the upcoming midterm election.

The president suggested that Tehran was waiting to see the election outcome before making a deal with his administration.

However, Trump dismissed consideration of the midterm elections in his administration’s efforts to negotiate with Iran.

“I gave absolutely no credence and will not give credence to the election when it comes to Iran. It doesn’t even enter my mind,” Trump said.

“The only thing that does is that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.”

After highlighting the threat of Iran, Trump urged all nations to join the United States in enforcing the “complete economic isolation” of Tehran until the regime ceases its attacks on commercial shipping, ends its support of terrorist groups, and abandons its nuclear ambitions.

“The terrorist regime is behaving badly, not because they are strong and confident, but because they are weak and desperate,” Trump said. 

“If we stand united, we will soon see a world free of the last 51-year menace of Iranian terror, and oil prices will come plummeting down even lower than they were at the start of the conflict.” 

Before mentioning Iran in his speech on Sept. 22, Trump said the United States was working with many member states of the U.N. to solve challenges that have persisted for decades. 

He then suggested that there was no better example of a danger that was allowed to increase in strength over time than Iran, as the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism.

“For 51 years, the fanatical Iranian regime has ruled by bloodshed and mass murder, spreading death and carnage and chaos across the entire Middle East and beyond,” Trump said. “They were the bully of the Middle East, but they are the bully no more.”

Trump told the United Nations that he immediately started negotiating with Iran after taking office in January 2025. The regime was offered full economic cooperation in exchange for the termination of its nuclear program and support for terrorism, but it refused, he said. 

In response to Iran’s refusal, Trump said the U.S. military obliterated the regime’s nuclear program in Operation Midnight Hammer. The U.S. military operation, which was carried out on June 22, 2025, targeted Iran’s Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites.

Trump said that Iran still refused a deal with the United States after the operation and continued to build missile and drone stockpiles. 

The U.S. military later launched Operation Epic Fury on Feb. 28 after Iran was given “every chance for a deal,” Trump said. 

During his speech, Trump touted the results of the operation, saying that the U.S. military destroyed Iran’s navy, air force, radar, and anti-aircraft equipment. He added that Iran’s missile and drone manufacturing capacity was almost gone.

“The only thing that isn’t gone is inflation, which is destroying their country, and is now well over 300 percent,” Trump said.

Trump also thanked the U.N. Security Council on Sept. 22 for voting to pass a resolution condemning Iran’s repeated attacks on commercial shipping.

The U.S. military resumed its blockade of Iranian ports after Iran launched multiple attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz in early July. As of Sept. 21, U.S. forces had redirected 110 commercial vessels since reinstating the blockade on July 14.

Trump said that the U.S. Navy is also continuing to escort commercial ships transporting oil through the Strait of Hormuz and that more oil was currently moving through the strait than at any other point since the start of the conflict in February.