Trump Considers Massive Strikes on Iran, US Denies Abbas UN Visa

The United States has granted a visa to Iran's delegation, including President Hassan Rouhani, to attend the UN General Assembly in New York next week, citing host country obligations. This comes as the war in Gaza has entered its seventh month. In contrast, Washington denied entry to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and several other Palestinian officials, forcing Abbas to address the assembly remotely for the second consecutive year. The Palestinian Authority denounced the decision as "unjustified," with the US citing Abbas's pursuit of international legal action, unilateral recognition, and continued payments to terrorists and their families.

Meanwhile, former US President Donald Trump stated in an interview that he is considering resuming large-scale strikes against Iran, posing the question of whether to "annihilate the Iranian regime." Trump is scheduled to meet with leaders of six Gulf states in New York to gauge their positions before making a decision. US forces in the Middle East have been ordered to maintain their current readiness levels through the end of the year in preparation for potential large-scale combat.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York during the UN General Assembly, though no meeting with Donald Trump is currently scheduled. The Prime Minister's office noted that the travel itinerary is not yet final. Separately, an Israeli preparatory team is reportedly in Texas to explore the possibility of a visit by Netanyahu to the state, though the purpose remains unknown.

In other news, an Israeli Air Force drone crashed into the sea off the coast of Palmachim due to a technical malfunction, with naval soldiers recovering the aircraft. The IDF stated there was no risk of information leakage and an investigation is underway. In the West Bank, the IDF reported arresting approximately 230 suspects and seizing over 100 weapons in recent months during counter-terrorism operations. Special police forces also arrested a wanted Tanzim member in Nablus.

French President Emmanuel Macron emphasized that a stable and sovereign Lebanon is crucial for peace in the Middle East and highlighted the importance of freedom of navigation in key maritime routes, while also identifying the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a regional destabilizer. The European Union condemned recent Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia, calling for an end to all military actions by the group. China, at Saudi Arabia's request, has privately urged Iran to use its influence to curb Houthi offensives, though Iran reportedly responded that regional stability depends on ending the war against Iran.