Trump debates deal, shifts tone on ‘annihilating’ Iran
After threatening to ‘annihilate’ Iran in an address before the UN, President Trump later shifted his tone following unexpected talks between the U.S. and Iran.
WASHINGTON —
Top members of the Trump administration met with Iranian leaders on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.
President Donald Trump described the exchange as “a very good meeting,” contrasting with his tone in an earlier speech before world leaders.
“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. Or, do I annihilate the Islamic Republic and do it quickly, never giving them a chance to kill and destroy people and countries again?” Trump said. “But, I believe we’ll make a deal right after the election because it doesn’t make sense for them not to. They’re waiting to see how I do in the midterm election. What they don’t realize is that I’m not running.”
Trump later appeared to soften his tone. During a meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Trump told reporters, “I think that a settlement is going to be reached. They want to talk to us. They have been talking to us. Even today, they’ve been talking to us. And the relationship is developing.”
Iran’s joint military command responded to Trump’s remarks in a statement, calling his address “a tool for domestic propaganda.” The statement also said Iran was prepared to “inflict even more severe, crushing and unpredictable blows.”
Trump says Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner met with Iranian officials during a three-hour mediated exchange. Iran’s delegation to the U.N. meeting included President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Witkoff says mediators will continue their work.
Support Grows For Diesel Embargo
President Trump signaled support for a proposal from several Republican lawmakers to pause U.S. diesel exports. According to AAA, the national average for a gallon of diesel set a new record Tuesday at $6.53 per gallon.
Iowa Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, Iowa Republican Representative and gubernatorial nominee Ashley Hinson, Michigan Republican Representative and gubernatorial nominee Mike Rogers, and Alaska Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan are among those calling for the embargo. They reason keeping more diesel in the U.S. could help lower costs, particularly for truckers and farmers.
Reacting to the proposal, Trump said, “I’ve called for that too. I said, let’s not send out the diesel. We make a lot of diesel. That could have a little bit of an effect on regular automobile gasoline. Because when you do that, it’s a sort of a flow, it’s a balance.”
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says he’s investigating whether the idea is feasible and whether a full or partial ban would work. Trump says the timeline for the decision would be “fast.”
The American Petroleum Institute, which represents the interests of America’s natural gas and oil industry, said, “a diesel export ban would wreak havoc at home and abroad.” API argues high diesel prices are partially due to a lack of refining capacity globally. Removing the U.S., the largest refiner of diesel fuel, from the global market would send prices around the world higher.
Watch more coverage on President Trump’s speech and the sideline talks with Iran: