Trump to Address UN General Assembly Amid Iran Tensions and Funding Cuts
Nearly 130 world leaders are convening at the United Nations General Assembly in New York for its main annual event. The gathering takes place against a backdrop of ongoing wars in the Middle East and Ukraine, discussions on artificial intelligence risks, and uncertainty surrounding the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's term ending without a clear successor. U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to deliver a speech at 16:45 Israel time, expected to convey a firm stance, particularly concerning Iran.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated in an NBC interview that the United States is open to talks with Iran during the summit, noting, "We are open to it. I don't think anything is planned at this point, but we are certainly open to something like that, especially if it has a chance to lead to something positive and ultimately achieve the goal of all this." Concurrently, a senior Iranian official indicated that Iran might reopen the Strait of Hormuz for shipping within days if U.S. sanctions are lifted, viewing the summit as a prime opportunity for diplomacy.
The White House emphasized that Trump "bravely" confronted Iran's nuclear program and achieved its objectives, countering criticism that the confrontation has led to prolonged stagnation. Beyond his address, Trump is expected to meet with the leaders of Denmark and Greenland to finalize an agreement expanding the U.S. military presence in Greenland, a move he described as granting Washington "permanent control." Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping will bypass the UN and meet Trump directly in Washington.
This week of diplomacy will feature key speeches, including those by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Wednesday, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday. In contrast, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has not received a U.S. visa and is expected to speak via video link. Brazil traditionally opens the official list of speakers at the main event.