Trump calls three‑hour Iran summit "very good" after threat to "annihilate" the country

On Tuesday, former President Donald Trump said the meeting in New York between U.S. officials and an Iranian delegation was "very good" after he had earlier warned that the United States would "annihilate" Iran if it did not back down from its regional ambitions.

The session, which lasted about three hours, saw Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff sit across from representatives of Tehran. Trump himself did not take part in the talks but released a brief statement that the discussion had been productive, citing the delegation’s willingness to talk about sanctions and regional security.

Trump’s comments came after a speech at the United Nations General Assembly where he criticised Iran and Cuba and praised the United States’ growth in artificial‑intelligence technology. The former president said the U.N. audience had seen the nation’s resolve, saying the country would no longer tolerate threats to American security in the Western Hemisphere.

Trump called the session "very good".

Iran has not yet issued an official response to Trump’s remarks, but officials in Washington say the talks were intended to reduce the risk of a flare‑up following the U.S. re‑imposition of sanctions and the threat of a military strike. Analysts note that the meeting echoes earlier diplomatic attempts to reset the relationship after the 2015 nuclear deal collapsed.

International context and reactions

Prime Minister John Burnham, who is in New York for the U.N. meeting, said he expected to find "common ground" with Trump on a range of issues, including the future of AI regulation. Burnham’s speech, which is scheduled for the afternoon, will focus on the need for global cooperation in emerging technologies.

BBC coverage noted that Trump’s threat to "annihilate" Iran was part of a broader rhetoric aimed at pressurising the Tehran regime to halt what it calls aggressive support for proxy groups in the region. The BBC also reported that the U.S. and Iran have been engaged in back‑channel talks for several weeks, with the aim of easing tensions that have escalated after the U.S. withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement.

Implications for the region

The meeting’s outcome could influence the balance of power in the Middle East, where U.S. and Iranian influence overlap in Iraq, Syria and Yemen. A de‑escalation would ease pressure on the U.S. military presence in the Gulf, while a lack of progress could leave the region exposed to renewed conflict.

U.S. officials say the talks were a step toward a broader diplomatic framework, but they also warned that the threat of sanctions and the possibility of a military response remain in place if Tehran does not comply with international demands.

The next key event is the UN General Assembly’s opening session, where Trump will deliver a speech that critics say will focus on the U.S. stance toward Iran and Cuba. The outcome of the U.N. forum may set the tone for any future negotiations between Washington and Tehran.