Trump Says He Expects Iran Deal After Midterms, Warns of "Big Decision" Ahead

NEW YORK — President Donald Trump said Tuesday he expects to reach a deal with Iran once the US midterm elections have concluded, framing the decision ahead as one of the most consequential of his presidency. Speaking before the UN General Assembly in New York, Trump described the choice in stark terms, saying he must decide whether to pursue an agreement that would allow Iran to rebuild into what he called one of the greatest countries in the Middle East or the world, or take further military action against the Islamic Republic to prevent it from posing future threats. Trump Predicts a Post-Election Agreement Trump said he believes a deal will materialize shortly after the November midterms, suggesting that Tehran is deliberately waiting to see how Republicans perform before committing to negotiations. He dismissed that strategy as misguided, noting that he is not up for reelection himself, having already won his final term, and that he intends to remain in office for another two and a half years while supporting Republican candidates in the midterms. He insisted that the election has no bearing on his approach to Iran, stating that his only fixed priority is ensuring Tehran never obtains a nuclear weapon. Trump's Account of Past Negotiations Trump said he initiated talks with Iran after taking office, offering what he described as full economic cooperation in exchange for Tehran ending its nuclear program and its support for terrorism — an offer he claimed Iran rejected. He reiterated his assertion that the US had destroyed Iran's nuclear program, describing it as buried beneath mountains of rubble. He said that after giving Iran repeated opportunities to reach an agreement, he ultimately took military action to prevent what he characterized as a future threat to the US and other nations. Claims About Iran's Military and Economic Losses Trump claimed that all 159 vessels in Iran's navy have been destroyed, along with its air force, radar systems, and air defense infrastructure. He said Iran's missile and drone manufacturing capacity has been nearly eliminated, and described the country's economy as devastated, citing inflation he said now exceeds 300%. He also accused Iran of violating an agreed ceasefire tied to nuclear negotiations by continuing attacks on civilian vessels from other nations passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Pushing Back on Munitions Concerns Addressing concerns that the US military may be depleting its munitions stockpile amid the conflict, Trump rejected the claim, saying the US holds far more munitions than it could ever realistically need and is expanding its reserves at an unprecedented pace. Background on the Conflict The US and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28, a campaign Tehran says has killed thousands of people. Iran responded with missile and drone strikes across the region and effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz, a critical corridor for global energy shipments. The conflict has since spread across the broader region, even as diplomatic efforts continue in an attempt to bring the fighting to an end.