Trump threatens to 'annihilate' Iran in UN speech as officials from both countries meet on sidelines

 President Donald Trump has told the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) he faces a "big decision" on whether to strike Iran again or pursue a peace deal.

A single member of Iran's delegation watched on during the president's speech on Tuesday in New York, in which he said he could "annihilate" the Islamic Republic if the conflict went unresolved. Before a standing-room-only audience, Trump also rejected "global government", vowed to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine and ensure the US wins the artificial intelligence race.

His comments came on a day of high-level diplomacy, which included talks between US and Iranian representatives. Trump himself has been meeting more than a dozen world leaders as wars in the Middle East and Ukraine test his foreign policy agenda.

He began his UNGA speech by touting his accomplishments on the economy, immigration, the border and tackling violent crime, in remarks that sounded more pitched to voters in November's US midterm elections than the diplomats in Manhattan.

He spent much of his address justifying the war with Iran, which has spiked global oil prices while dragging down his approval ratings since the US and Israel launched the military action in February.

Trump's tone contrasted with remarks earlier by UN Secretary General António Guterres, who warned global divisions were deepening and underscored the "interdependence" of the world's peoples.

FULL REPORT AT: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c52e0ywl9pr7o