ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - In his speech addressing world leaders at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump dismissed war efforts being tied to election results and said that he would not be running in the November midterms, amid calls for continued economic pressure against Tehran.
Iran is “waiting to see how I do in the mid-term election. What they don’t realize is that I’m not running,” said Trump, reiterating that “the Republican party is running, and I'll be helping them, but I am not running.”
“I believe we’ll make a deal, right after the election,” said President Trump, noting that he “will not give credence to the election when it comes to Iran” and that the “only thing that does [enter my mind] is that Iran will never have a nuclear weapon.”
The remarks come amid renewed tit-for-tat strikes and growing domestic pressure ahead of US midterm elections in November, with gasoline prices surging above $4 a gallon nationwide and deepening voter frustration. Recent national polls show Democrats holding a clear lead over Republicans on the generic congressional ballot, adding to concerns within the GOP.
Nevertheless, Trump articulated his resolve to prevent Iran’s nuclear proliferation as his primary objective and disclosed plans to fortify munitions stockpiles "at levels that we have never done before,” noting the construction of 18 munitions plants underway.
“Rapid construction will be leading to very rapid deployment of missiles of every type” and will be able to supply allies “at a much faster rate.”
“Will a deal be made with Iran that lets them rebuild and create a far greater country than it ever was before,” asked Trump, “or do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly… with no chance of survival and no hope.”
Trump called on “all nations to join on enforcing the complete economic isolation of Iran” on commercial shipping until Tehran relinquishes nuclear ambitions and to be “equally united in maintaining pressure.”
The US Treasury in late August enacted a sweeping sanctions package dubbed Operation Economic Outcast against Iran, targeting five major sectors and warning that parties enabling sanctioned entities risk being “cut off from the global financial system.” Several EU countries have joined with additional sanctions.
Trump thanked the UN Security Council for “voting overwhelmingly” to pass a resolution condemning Iran’s violations on commercial shipping.
He hailed the sanctions as a success, stating that “as a result of Operation Epic Fury, all 159 ships of their [Iranian] navy are now lying at the bottom of the sea,” and that the Iranian airforce radar, anti-aircraft equipment, and economy "are gone," with missiles and drone manufacturing capacities severely disabled.
“The only thing which isn’t gone is inflation,” which is “well over 300%," he said.
President Trump is expected to meet with the heads of several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly annual meeting. Axios reported earlier this week that Trump is approaching a major decision over Iran and plans to consult with regional countries before a possible major bombing campaign against Tehran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met with Steve Witkoff, US Special Envoy to Donald Trump, state-run IRIB news agency reported.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf said on Tuesday that Iran’s military capabilities have reached a level enabling it to target "any point it chooses" without limitations, according to Tasnim News Agency, affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Following Trumps speech, Iran’s wartime operation command - Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters - affirmed the “readiness” of Iran’s forces to deliver “heavier, more crushing, and unpredictable blows,” according to Iran’s state-run Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), building on threats on Sunday that “the flames of war” would engulf countries cooperating with the United States.
