At the U.N. General Assembly, President Trump urged nations to enforce the "complete economic isolation" of Iran, saying united action would lower oil prices. He coupled the call for sanctions with a stark military warning that he could "annihilate" the Islamic Republic rather than allow it to rebuild. Trump also announced two U.S. bases in Greenland, dismissed AI safety warnings as a "hoax," and thanked the U.N. Security Council for condemning attacks on shipping.
Trump Urges Global 'Complete Economic Isolation' of Iran, Issues Stark Military Warning at UN
Photo Credit: Brendan SMIALOWSKI / AFP via Getty Images
Speaking to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, President Donald Trump urged world leaders to join the United States in economically isolating Iran and said united action would help push down global oil prices.
Trump called on countries to enforce what he described as the "complete economic isolation" of Tehran, arguing that coordinated pressure could end decades of what he characterized as Iranian-sponsored violence and relieve consumers strained by higher energy costs.
"I call on all nations to help to enforce the complete economic isolation of Iran," he said.
The appeal increases pressure on U.S. allies already dealing with rising fuel prices and regional instability. Trump cited disruptions to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and noted that Russia's war in Ukraine has further strained global oil markets.
He paired his demand for economic measures with a blunt military warning, saying he faced a choice between allowing Iran to rebuild or quickly destroying the regime.
"Or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill or destroy people and continents?" he asked.
Rejecting suggestions that electoral politics would shape his decisions, Trump said midterm elections would not influence his approach; his stated priority, he said, is preventing Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon.
In addition, Trump announced two planned U.S. military bases in Greenland under an agreement with Denmark and said he would not move to restrain the development of artificial intelligence, dismissing safety concerns about the technology as a "hoax."
He closed by thanking the U.N. Security Council for condemning attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz — a conciliatory note at the end of an otherwise forceful and confrontational address.
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