President Donald Trump used his opening remarks at the 81st United Nations General Assembly to warn that the United States faces a "big decision" – to negotiate a settlement with Iran or to "annihilate" the country – while simultaneously signing a defence agreement that will allow the U.S. to operate two new military installations in Greenland. The speech, which also condemned the International Criminal Court and defended a new government‑run TV channel, sparked criticism from journalists and prompted a flurry of diplomatic reactions on the sidelines of the summit.
Arctic security pact and broader defence agenda
In a ceremony in New York, the United States, Denmark and Greenland signed a deal that grants Washington "permanent control over security" on the Danish Arctic territory, according to BBC News and The Guardian. The agreement re‑affirms Denmark’s sovereignty over Greenland while allowing the construction of two U.S. bases – one at a former Cold War outpost and another on a remote dog‑sled station – a move described by NATO and EU officials as easing recent tensions after Trump’s earlier threats to seize the island. The Washington Post called the pact a "foreign‑policy win" for the administration ahead of the mid‑term elections.
Iran, the Middle East and the prospect of a deal
Trump’s most striking claim – that he could "annihilate" Iran if Tehran does not agree to a settlement after the U.S. mid‑term elections – was echoed by multiple outlets.
"I have a big decision to make – either we make a deal with Iran or we annihilate it," the president said, according to The New York Times.He added that a three‑hour meeting with an Iranian delegation in New York had been “very good,” and suggested that Iran might reopen the Strait of Hormuz within seven days if U.S. military pressure eases, a scenario reported by CNBC. The G7, as BBC News noted, condemned Iran’s arming of the Houthis in Yemen and warned that Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia jeopardise global energy security. Meanwhile, Gulf allies gathered with Trump on the sidelines to discuss renewed U.S. security guarantees, and Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva warned against foreign interference in Brazil’s election, as reported by Al Jazeera.
European sanctions, Russian oligarchs and Ukraine’s anger
On the same day, the European Union removed two Russian billionaires – Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman – from its sanctions list, a move the EU presidency called a “difficult compromise.” The Guardian and The Washington Post highlighted Kyiv’s criticism, saying the delisting sent the wrong signal to Moscow. The decision came amid broader discussions on Russia’s war in Ukraine, with the United States pressing Ukraine to agree to an energy truce, according to CNBC.
Media access row and new US‑run channel
Trump’s address also intensified a dispute with the White House press pool. After barring CNN, MSNBC and Politico from the White House, the networks sued, alleging First Amendment violations, as CNBC reported. In response, the administration launched “Trump TV,” a government‑funded channel that Al Jazeera said mirrors former Latin American leader Hugo Chávez’s media projects. The press ban drew condemnation from media watchdogs and prompted several outlets to suspend coverage of the president, a development noted by The Guardian.
Other leaders used the UN platform to voice regional grievances: Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel of a “genocidal mindset,” Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim called for diplomacy amid what he described as the most dangerous phase for the Gulf, and Jordan’s King Abdullah II condemned Israeli settlement expansion as a forced‑displacement strategy, according to Al Jazeera. UN Secretary‑General António Guterres, delivering his final address, warned that a divided world faces “four defining tests of power” – war, inequality, climate change and artificial intelligence – a theme echoed by multiple outlets.
Overall, Trump’s UNGA speech combined a hard‑line stance on Iran, a strategic Arctic expansion, a contentious media crackdown and a broader push to reshape international security arrangements, setting a tone that will likely dominate diplomatic negotiations in the months ahead.
